Ere Esie has long been known and associated with the people of Esie. Indeed, it has become a referent in the cosmology and socio-cultural spectrum of the people. However, the origin of these stone figures has long been a subject of social and academic discourse. In some quarters, it is
believed that the
images were formally human beings turned to stone by Supreme Being
(Olodumare), while researchers and Archaeological findings prove that
they were carved by some yet to be identified carvers. In fact, the
objects are shrouded in great mysteries, myths and taboos.
It is
widely believed that Esie people migrated from old Oyo in the years of
Alafin Amuniwaye (late 18th Century). An Oyo prince, Adesole had
contested the throne with Amuniwaye and lost. Consequently, he had to
leave the Oyo town as tradition forbade him to stay after losing the
contest. These Oyo emigrants, having wondered and settled at different
places finally came to their present abode around 1775. It is also
believed that a famous hunter, Baragbon who took the mantle of
leadership led the people to Esie. It is equally believed that it was
Baragbon, during one of his hunting expeditions that he accidentally
discovered the stone images in a grove arranged in a semi-circle. This
grove is located about 1.4 kilometres south west of Esie Township. The
images consist of over one thousand stone carvings of men and women
presided over by a king (Oba Ere), the largest collection of stone
images in sub-Sahara Africa. Majority of the objects are carved in
sitting position and were manufactured from steatite type of rock,
otherwise known as soapstone. Features like facial marks and striations
are seen on majority of the objects while some of the heads are
plain-faced.
The sculptures range in height from 1.4 to 120 cm and weight between 0.55 and 104 kilograms. The carvings represent people engaged in different social activities: some playing musical instruments and many armed with arrows, machetes and unidentified objects. Few objects represent lower social status while majority of the objects depicts higher social status as attested by their rich attires, heavy beads and well-designed headgears. The artistry of the objects suggests that the objects were produced by highly developed African Society of the past.
These impressive artistic features of the object prompted the then colonial government of Nigeria to build a shelter to house the images in 1945 at the site of discovery (National Museum, Esie).
Other facilities include:
• Vast land mass suitable for eco-museum
• Viable archaeological sites for excavation
• Spacious children playing ground
• A modern gallery with a permanent exhibition titled; Indigenous Artworks as Indicators of Cultural harmony
• A stand-by generating set.
• Serene environment etc.
For more inquires visit: www.ncmmnigeria.com
e-mail: esiemuseum@yahoo.com
The sculptures range in height from 1.4 to 120 cm and weight between 0.55 and 104 kilograms. The carvings represent people engaged in different social activities: some playing musical instruments and many armed with arrows, machetes and unidentified objects. Few objects represent lower social status while majority of the objects depicts higher social status as attested by their rich attires, heavy beads and well-designed headgears. The artistry of the objects suggests that the objects were produced by highly developed African Society of the past.
These impressive artistic features of the object prompted the then colonial government of Nigeria to build a shelter to house the images in 1945 at the site of discovery (National Museum, Esie).
Other facilities include:
• Vast land mass suitable for eco-museum
• Viable archaeological sites for excavation
• Spacious children playing ground
• A modern gallery with a permanent exhibition titled; Indigenous Artworks as Indicators of Cultural harmony
• A stand-by generating set.
• Serene environment etc.
For more inquires visit: www.ncmmnigeria.com
e-mail: esiemuseum@yahoo.com
0 comments:
Post a Comment