A STUDY OF ARCHITECTURAL MONUMENTS IN SOUTH-EAST ZONE OF NIGERIA

Project Abstract

<p>&nbsp;          <b>ABSTRACT</b>&nbsp;</p><p>The diversity of Nigeria with about 370 indentified ethnic groups, and each expressing its own history and culture, and reacting to various external architectural influences, gave rise to multiple variations in architectural products classified and listed as monuments. Architectural monument is a building or structure designed and built to commemorate and important or great historic event or in memorial of a famous person. It could be a historic building (very old building) or structure preserved for its unique architectural style/design, construction material and methods (technology) and aesthetic characteristics. A preliminary survey on some architectural monuments in the South-East zone of Nigeria revealed traditional design concepts and construction methods/ingenuity worthy of consideration as criteria for listing architectural monuments. But available documentation however revealed that the existing criteria for listing architectural monuments in Nigeria are generalized and thereby failed to capture the intrinsic peculiarities of the ethnic diversity in Nigeria. Therefore, the aim of this study is to search and identify the intrinsic peculiarities worthy of consideration as criteria for listing architectural monuments in the South-East zone of Nigeria and to evolve appropriate and comprehensive listing criteria for architectural monuments in the South-East zone of Nigeria. This study adopted historical and qualitative research methods in combination with descriptive survey and correlation analysis of data from literature reviews and field study. Also, Factor Analysis (FA) or Principal Component Analysis (PCA), a statistical technique was used in processing the data gathered for this study. <br></p>

Project Overview

<p> <b>1.0 INTRODUCTION&nbsp;</b></p><p><b>1.1 Background of the Study&nbsp;</b></p><p>Great and historic events most times are recorded in literary forms like poems, tales, stories and writings. Sometimes, significant historical events, though documented in literary forms, are recorded in an aspect of the material culture of a people as architectural monuments. <br></p><p> By monument a society remembers its collective past and formulates its present identity. According to Brooks (1997), “People have always intended monuments to be permanent; they are meant to last forever in order to educate and remind future generations of their collective past and values the society deems significant. Therefore, monuments are almost always made of lasting materials – stone, marble, bronze, steel, or iron” (Brooks, 1997, p. 4). Robert Ivy (2002) stated that, “…a monument comprises, a designed and constructed physical object intended as a commemoration” (Robert, 2002, p. 85). They are designed and built as a lasting public tribute to a person, a group of people, or in commemoration of a historic event. It could be a building or structure that is preserved because of its historical, cultural, technological or aesthetic importance. <br></p><p> The ancient Roman Empire or civilization, which “ruled” the world politically, before and after the death of Christ (BC-AD), designed and built magnificent architectural structures to commemorate notable events in her history and in them, showcased the level of technology available at the time. Those structures are now monuments. Their examples are: Triumphal Arches to celebrate and commemorate historic events (victory in wars) like the capture of Jerusalem (Arch of Titus, Rome after AD 81), (Arch of Tiberius, Orange, late first century BC) originally, commemorated the conquest of Gaul but later its inscription was changed to honor Emperor Tiberius. There were other architectural structures such as temples, theatres, circuses, meeting places and houses designed and built that are now monuments. Their examples are: the house of the surgeon, Pompeii (fourth to third century BC), acclaimed to have been one of the largest houses of its time in the region (Southern Italy) and more solidly built (Fletcher, 1999, p. 225-281). According to the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism (FMCT) 2007 brochure, in about the 14th and 15th centuries the geographical area now known as Nigeria was home for several kingdoms (civilizations) and tribal communities until late 19th century when Britain consolidated her rule over the country. Each of those early kingdoms (civilization) left behind its unique architecture. Examples are: the Hausa mud houses inspired by North African civilization; the Yoruba palaces with elaborately carved doors and verandah posts, and the classical architectural style introduced by slaves repatriated to Nigeria from Latin America in the 19th century. There are also the stone or rubble wall houses of the Ibos. All these make for architectural monuments of high technical and artistic culture in Nigeria. This study understands that Nigeria’s ethnic diversity (more than 370 known ethnic groups) and geographical distribution of same gave her a rich and enviable heritage of architectural monuments that needed to be appropriately, listed and positioned towards effective contribution to the national economy. This is because, countries like the USA, Egypt, Germany and India to mention a few, with great and remarkable history, designed, built and preserved architectural monuments considered to have enduring value as memorials relevant to their countries’ histories and development (civilization) for generations (present and future) to appreciate and cherish. Examples are; the Independence Hall, USA (TWHNGS, 2007.8, p. 96); the Pyramid fields from Giza to Dahshur about 5000 yrs old, Egypt (TWHNGS, 2007.8, p. 69); Cologne Cathedral about 1248 yrs old, Germany (TWHNGS, 2007.8:30) and Taj Mahal, India (TWHNGS, 2007.8, p. 134).&nbsp;</p><p> Nigeria, on her part, though has witnessed significant historical events worthy of being recorded in the architecture of the people as befitting memorials or architectural monuments within the vast landscape adorning the nation; the reverse has been the case. Historic events are hardly recorded in architectural forms as monuments. Some historic buildings that are listed as monuments and ought to be positioned for effective contribution to the national economy, are either pulled down for a totally new development in the name of urban reengineering or neglected. Examples are; the Habah’s mosque in Maigana which had only a wall measuring 1.2m x 4m x 45m left standing as at 1989, the ‘Elephant House’ in Lagos, seen as a piece of beauty was dismantled for the erecting of a modern skyscraper, Government House at Zungeru destroyed in order to construct a federal road in 1988. Only two concrete columns were left to mark its location almost a century ago. In 1997, part of Kano city walls and gates were destroyed by the state government to give way to a by-pass road (Udoh, 2007, p. 18). Recently (June 7, 2007), the Douglas building used as Government Lodge Owerri, was set ablaze by unknown persons. The one storey structure was built with timber imported from Sierra Leone and was the official residence of former colonial master, Mr. Douglas. The International Tourism Promotion and Co-operation Department, Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism Abuja, compiled in April 2005, some list (about 40 numbers) of architectural monuments in Nigeria (FMCT, 2005, : Tourist’s Guide Brochure). Also National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) listed 33 architectural monuments (including South East Zone) in Nigeria (NCMM, 2010.REF: TF128/T/Vol.II/373). <br></p><p> Note: The list is not exhaustive. There are some structures that have met all the official conditions of listing as monuments but yet to be officially acquired, declared and gazetted as such. Several others are yet to be discovered even going by the existing listing criteria. The list will continue to grow as the awareness is created and wider range of criteria is established through research. According to Udoh (2007), the list of scheduled monuments in the federation as compiled by the Historical Society of Nigeria in 1967, was about 67 in number. From the list, architectural monuments are twenty eight (28) structures. Apart from the fact that the listing criteria for these monuments have not been revisited and updated through research, it is gathered that no concrete effort has also been put in place to update the list, or even to ascertain the number of the monuments that are still in existence (Udoh, 2007, p. 18). This poses a serious challenge not only to the academic but also to our research institutes. <br></p><p> Therefore, this research intends to study architectural monuments in South East zone of Nigeria and their listing criteria in order to consciously identify peculiar architectural elements or characteristics which might be unique and evolve appropriate listing criteria for architectural monuments in this zone as a subset of National listing criteria so as to position them to contribute effectively to the national economy. <br></p><p> <b>1.2 THE STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM&nbsp;</b></p><p>Architectural monuments in Nigeria are not appropriately listed. The diversity of Nigeria (about 370 identified ethnic groups) with each ethnic group expressing its own history and culture, responding to its unique environmental contextual condition and reacting to various external architectural influences, gave rise to diversity of architectural products listed as monuments and of the criteria for listing them . From the available documentation, the criteria for listing of monuments are not appropriate (location/zone specific) but generalized thereby not capturing the intrinsic peculiarities of the different ethnic zones in Nigeria. Therefore, the architectural products so listed are not appropriately classified, thereby exposing the monuments to eminent threat of destruction and in no way positioned to contribute to the Nigerian national economy. <br></p><p> <b>1.3 AIM OF THE STUDY&nbsp;</b></p><p>The aim of the study is to evolve appropriate listing criteria for architectural monuments in the South-East zone of Nigeria that recognize the peculiarities of the zone as a subset of the National listing criteria with a view to contributing to comprehensive national listing criteria for architectural monuments in Nigeria. <br></p><p> <b>1.4 STUDY OBJECTIVES&nbsp;</b></p><p>The study intends to achieve its aim through the following objectives:&nbsp;</p><p>a. Identification of listed architectural monuments in South-East zone of Nigeria and their geographic locations.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;b. Identification of the listing criteria used for existing architectural monuments in Nigeria.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;c. Review of foreign experience in listing architectural monuments.&nbsp;</p><p>d. Comparison of characteristics of architectural monuments among the constituent states in the South-East zone of Nigeria and determination of the adequacy or otherwise of listing criteria for architectural monuments.&nbsp;</p><p>e. Evolving appropriate listing criteria for architectural monuments in South- East zone of Nigeria.&nbsp;</p><p>f. Adoption of the new (appropriate) listing criteria in Nigeria. <br></p><p> <b>1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS&nbsp;</b></p><p>To carry out this study, the following research questions were raised:&nbsp;</p><p>1. Are there listing criteria for architectural monuments in Nigeria?&nbsp;</p><p>2. Are the architectural monuments in South-East zone of Nigeria listed based on the existing listing criteria for architectural monuments in Nigeria?&nbsp;</p><p>3. Are these listing criteria appropriate and comprehensive?&nbsp;</p><p>4. Are there other appropriate listing criteria that should guide the listing and classification of architectural monuments in South-East zone of Nigeria? <br></p><p> <b>1.6 HYPOTHESIS&nbsp;</b></p><p>H01: There are no significant location specific peculiarities for listing architectural monuments in South-East zone of Nigeria.&nbsp;</p><p>H02: There are no appropriate and comprehensive criteria for listing architectural monuments in South-East zone of Nigeria. <br></p>