From Repatriation to Responsibility: Rethinking the Conservation of Nigerian Cultural Heritage in the 21st Century Through Hybrid Museology

Abstract

In recent years, the call for the return of Africa’s tangible cultural heritage has increased, leading to the repatriation of cultural objects, and Nigeria is no exception. Amidst the growing demands for the restitution of Africa’s cultural heritage objects, post-restitution conservation is rarely incorporated into restitution plans despite its critical role in ensuring sustainable care and interpretation. There is a need to give this negligence utmost attention not only for the purpose of preserving the objects but also because holding institutions refuse to return objects, claiming that there is poor conservation capacity in Africa. This paper explores the limitations of some Western conservation methods in the Nigerian context using the National Museum, Lagos, as a case study. It discusses how effective indigenous knowledge systems and community engagement can be included in the conservation strategies of Nigerian museums. The present study used a qualitative method to identify the gaps in post-restitution conservation with a theoretical framework based on ‘Third Space’ and ‘Contact Zone’ concepts. The outcome of the research showed that repatriated objects can be conserved in the National Museum, Lagos. A hybrid conservation approach and collaboration with holding institutions were recommended for sustainable post-repatriation conservation.