By Simeon Mpamugoh
Desirous of propagating and sustaining Edo culture in the diaspora, an author, mother, and community advocate, Nekpen Obasogie, has unveiled a multimillion-dollar art gallery in the City of Brampton (Toronto), Canada.
Queen Idia House Art Gallery was established out of Obasogie’s enthusiasm for art collection rooted in her Edo cultural origin.
“The dream to establish Queen Idia House Art Gallery in Toronto is a part of my effort to propagate and sustain the Edo cultural heritage in the diaspora.” The art gallery has been well-appreciated by some political figures and art enthusiasts in the region.
Obasogie, who is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto, stressed that “as an indigene of Benin, the art gallery was inspired by my cultural root and 80% of the artworks in the gallery comprise of Benin cultural artifacts, made in Benin Kingdom in Nigeria. Thus, setting up the gallery is an opportunity for me to illuminate the rich artistry of Benin and her cultural heritage.”
She revealed that the art emporium was still a work in progress. “We are still working on the art gallery. With the support of some stakeholders, we hope to improve the gallery’s infrastructure soon. We look forward to transforming it into a world-class art gallery in Canada that will attract audiences from different parts of the world.
” It’s a part of our campaign for the Restitution of Benin Artifacts from Western institutions….we hope Queen Idia House Art Gallery will add volume to the campaign and struggle against colonial oppression in Africa.”
She named the gallery after the legendary Queen Idia, who played a significant role in the rise and reign of her son, Oba (king) Esigie. Idia was a great warrior Queen mother who fought relentlessly before and during her son’s (Esigie’s) reign as the Oba (King) of the Benin Kingdom. The historian recounted:, “Queen Idia is the mother of Oba Esigie, who ruled Benin from 1504 to 1550. She was a remarkable figure in Benin’s history. She was known for her military prowess, a great warrior who fought alongside her son and played a significant role in his reign. She was the first woman to earn the chieftaincy of the Iyoba (Queen Mother) in the Benin Empire and led soldiers to war. She was equally a patron of arts and culture, encouraging creativity and excellence.
“The mask crafted from ivory represents Queen Idia’s esoteric beauty and royal status. It was originally worn by Benin Obas as a pendant during ceremonies and rituals. The mask became the symbol of the Festival of African Culture (FESTAC) held in 1977 in Nigeria to celebrate African heritage and culture.
“The Queen Idia House Art Gallery aims to unravel the history and artistic nature of the ancient African culture of the Benin Kingdom – especially the rich history embedded in the artifacts. It will illuminate the historical method and history of using artifacts to record events in the ancient Benin Kingdom, as well as teach the Canadian society the relevance and colorful cultural heritage of an African society (the Benin Kingdom), which has been in existence for more than 1500 years.”
She revealed that all the artifacts and paintings in the Art Gallery were made by Benin artisans in the Benin Kingdom! However, the Art Gallery is centered around the documentation of African art. “We have artifacts from different cultures in Africa,” she added.
The author of two prominent history books on the historical relationship between the Benin Kingdom and the Europeans since the 15th century till date disclosed that the books had given her global recognition and motivation to propagate the cultural heritage of the Benin Kingdom in the Western world.
She said that African artists were positioned and at the heart of the primary artisans of the Art Gallery, noting: “We have different African artists, such as sculptors, artists that produce the paintings, fabric makers and other guilds for the gallery.”
She assured art collectors and enthusiasts that the gallery would bring out the aesthetics and cultural value of the world-famous Benin bronzes. During the British punitive expedition in Benin in 1897, thousands of priceless Benin artifacts were looted by British soldiers and scattered around the world in several museums and private homes.
“Art is an integral part of the Benin culture that tells the story of the people’s past and present histories. At Queen Idia House Art Gallery we have some fascinating, sophisticated, and highly priced Benin bronzes and two extra-large Idia masks worth millions.”