Introduction:
Culture remains an integral part of any society and cultural values are the core principles and ideals upon which entire communities exist. When people really appreciate these values they are inherent in their culture, there is tendency that they will respect each other.
Most communities in our country has be plagued with violence conflict most cases, resulting in the polarization of the people along religious and ethic lines. This is antithetical to the notion of peace and unity. This paper therefore discusses the place of Museums in Fostering Unity in our society.
Concept of Unity:
Unity has been defined as the state of being undivided or unbroken completeness or totality with nothing wanting. Similarly, unity denote a combining of the part, elements and individual into a an effective whole.
Again, it could mean being together or at one with some one or something.
Synonymically, unity implies in oneness as in spirit, aims, interest, feelings etc of that which is made up of diverse element and individual.
Unity thus speak it’s importance in any any given society. When there is unity, people are in agreement and act together for a particular purpose. It is needed for survival since it can protect and help people live in freedom from all kinds of negativity.
Indeed, unity gives us courage, power and strength. United we stand divided we fall. Aside from agreement, trust and love communication and collaboration are keys in Fostering Unity.
What is Museum?
Museum is not a place or building. It is an institution. Icon 2007 defined Museums as an non profit permanent institution, in the service of the society and its development, open to the public which acquire, conserve, research, communicate and exhibit for the purpose of education, study and enjoyment.
From this definition the capacity of museum to impact positively on society is not in doubt.
The Place of Museum in Fostering Unity:
Undoubtedly, museum is about people and so owns something to the society. By nature and functions, it is fundamentally dedicated to the society and its development. Though collections are the “heart” of the museum, the people whom the museum is preserving them or whom produce them are the raison deter of its existence and therefore very important, corroborating the idea of impacting on the external environment.
Brad Burne (2000) talks about performative museulogy that scrutinising activities and develop the medium that is singularly their own i.e collecting, documenting and exhibiting as a means of describing and commenting on the realities of their societies and their world.
Museum therefore acts as a decisive force in the documentation on cultural knowledge, information dissemination creating better understanding and healthy experiences.
Because museum is equipped with the custodianship of heritage, it has become tools for forging harmony, unity, impacting appropriate cultural norms and values towards creating attitudinal change in the society (Abadom 2003). If you ask me I will definitely say that museum do have a place in fostering unity in the society especially in the Nigerian museum.
Conclusion:
For every human organisation (society) unity is crucial for it’s survival. When there is no unity, there is likely not be peace and ultimately no progress and development. Museums by its very nature and function is well position to help society progress in the part of unity.
– Mrs Jane Attah
Assistant Chief Planning Officer,
Museum of Colonial History, Lokoja.
