STOP ILLICIT REMOVAL OF CULTURAL ARTEFACTS — STAKEHOLDERS ADVISE
REPORTER: SCHOLAR ABAGA
As the world marks illicit trafficking of cultural property, some stakeholders in the sector resident in Anambra State have called on citizens to cherish and protect their cultural heritage for a better society.
According to them, protecting their cultural centers in the state would stop illicit removal of these cultural heritage, boost norms and values of the society as well as promote commercial activities of the country.
The lnternational Day against illicit trafficking in cultural property is held annually on November 14.
It reminds the world that theft, looting and illicit trafficking of cultural property takes place in every country, robbing people of their culture, identity and history while encouraging people to work together to combat it.
Speaking on the significance of the day, a Cultural Officer with the Anambra State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Awka, Mr.Nwafor Oforbike, expressed displeasure with the practice stating that stolen artefacts had negatively affected the host community.
He advised the government to fund the agencies and departments saddled with the responsibility of arts and culture to function optimally.
Mr. Oforbike also implored traditional rulers to ensure closeness to their people to avoid removal of those artefacts.
The Cultural Officer, while commenting on the recent return of most stolen artefacts back to the country, urged government to intensify efforts towards bringing back more to avoid cultural decay.
A resident of Awka, Mr. Ugochukwu Anigbogwu, who described illicit trafficking of cultural property as the unauthorized theft of art works from where they were originally created to some other place, insisted that it was a crime in Nigeria.
He pointed out that some of the artefacts are worship elements by traditionalists and may react when removed from their original places of worship.
In an interview, the Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment and Tourism in Anambra State, Mr. Don Onyenji, said the present administration of Professor Chukwuma Soludo was putting measures in place at preserving, protecting and patronizing the cultural heritage by revamping the lgbo- Ukwu Cultural center where most of those artworks were preserved.
He advised lgbo people to cherish, protect and patronize those who are into sculptural works to enhance their source of livelihood.
EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
