The visit to The British Museum by IROKO Theatre took place on 9th September 2023. The free, educational tour was organised by IROKO Theatre in conjunction with Laura Lewis, Head of Community Partnerships at the British Museum. The aim was to view Nigerian and African artefacts, held at the museum as part of the Home from Home project, celebrating British-Nigerian heritage. The project is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Led by Alex-Oma Pius, IROKO Theatre’s Artistic Director, the group, consisting of various community members including the East Side Seniors group from Newham, discussed the history and significance of many of the African artefacts on display at the Africa Galleries. Artefacts such as the Benin plaques, the carved wooden doors from the Palace at Ikere in Nigeria, and the carved ancestral screens depicting the wealth from trade during the British Empire.
Other items on display, included a contemporary sculpture by prominent British -Nigerian artist, Sokari Douglas Camp who is featured in our Home from Home digital resources and ‘The Tree of Life,’ made from decommissioned firearms from Mozambique’s 17-year-old war.
Later during a lunch break, the group shared insights on objects originating from Nigeria such as Adire textiles, coral beads, instruments, and many other everyday items.
After the British Museum visit, one of the community members commented that the tour was “a very interesting and informative interactive session.”
