Opening of 10th Annual African Presence Art Exhibition Brings Bronze Treasures from the Royal Court of Benin to NSU

(Photo caption, L to R: NSU Board of Trustee Member Sam Morrison, High Priest Osemwegie Ebohon, founder of Ebohon Cultural Centre in Benin City, Nigeria, and NSU President George L. Hanbury II, Ph.D., who is holding the Ikegua, a symbol of authority given to the High Priest by the Oba. Ikegua means God’s Hand.)

Bronze treasures from the Royal Court of Benin have transformed the Second Floor Gallery of NSU’s Alvin Sherman Library into a veritable palace brimming with one-of-a-kind artifacts from Nigeria.

The unique collection is on loan to NSU as the university’s 10^th Annual African Presence Art Exhibition, which opened on Jan. 31. The exhibition, titled Benin: A Kingdom of Bronze, features more than 80 pieces of artwork crafted in brass, wood and terra cotta.

The collection comes to NSU from the Ebohon Cultural Center of Benin City, Nigeria, which is among the largest private museums in West Africa. It holds a collection of more than 7,000 pieces and related historical documents dating back to the 18th century.

During the opening reception of Benin: A Kingdom of Bronze, dignitaries from the Ebohon Cultural Center joined NSU students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the surrounding community to commemorate the beginning of NSU’s month-long celebration of Black History Month.

The opening included musical performances by the NSU Vocal Ensemble/Bossa Nova Choral, a dance performance featuring students from NSU’s Division of Performing and Visual Arts, the Pouring of the Libation ritual, and a curator’s talk given by Babacar MBow.

Benin: A Kingdom of Bronze will be displayed until Feb. 26 in NSU’s Cotilla Gallery inside of the Alvin Sherman Library, which has been transformed into a reproduction of the Oba (Monarch Palace) giving visitors a historical sense of African social organization before The Middle Passage, or the transatlantic journey of non-return.

The exhibit is FREE and open to the public during the following hours:

Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sundays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Benin: A Kingdom of Bronze is sponsored by NSU’s Office of University Relations, as part of the university’s 2013 Black History Month celebration, which also includes compelling discussions, engaging performances, educational workshops and dynamic speakers.

For more information about NSU’s extensive offering of Black History Month events, please visit www.nova.edu/blackhistory.