Towards attracting youths to the museum

ONE of the easiest ways through which we can transfer our culture to the upcoming generation is for us to make the culture attractive.

However, how can we transfer the culture without embracing the museum?

Among the functions of the museum is that it keeps relics of our past, which will make the upcoming generation appreciate the culture more.

In Yorubaland, for example, before the advent of modern governance, several wars and battles were fought across the region, and several weapons were used.

Most of these relics are now housed in museums across the South West, and visitors to the museum will be told the story behind each relic, and how it was used during the war by the curator.

Just like the experience one gets from reading books, one will relieve the battles and wars fought in those days, and how life was for those who were around during that period.

There are also several warriors in Yorubaland whose battle vests have found their way into museums across the region.

All these will make our youth appreciate the museum, especially at a time when the foreign culture is gaining upper hand over our own culture.

Having known the importance of the museum, it is, therefore, necessary for parents, teachers and even community and religious leaders to encourage their wards to visit museums from time to time.

Schools can make museum visits as part of their curriculum, while parents can take their children there just to relax and learn.

One positive thing about visits to museums is that one will definitely learn one or two things on each visit.

Our culture is our future, and it is high time everybody woke up towards sustaining it.

It is unfortunate that foreigners now value our culture more than the real owners, and this is not good for posterity sake.

• Asiyanbi is of the National Museum of Unity, Ibadan.