I just arrived from a 20-hour trip from New Delhi, India. Still seriously jet-lagged I curiously checked Bloglines to see what has been going on since I left for India last Monday, and a lot has happened, particularly on the Nigerian political scene which I ‘m not inclined to start ranting about yet. Of the multitude post demanding my attention, Jeremy’s post on Mary Slessor’s Tomb in Calabar caught my eye. Slessor was one of the few icon of Nigerian colonial period, a missionary from Scotland that more-or-less brought an end to the killing of twins in that region several decades back.
Jeremy while on a visit to Calabar states “the graveyard was sadly locked when I was there.” What I can’t understand is why would Mary Slessor’s tomb remain in a general cemetery when it can easily be moved and situated in a more centralized and befitting location in the city? It’ wrong to have someone of her caliber buried unappreciated in a locked, general cemetery, when the tomb could be turned into a monument designed and presented in a manner that drives[tag] tourism[/tag].
Yes, T-O-U-R-I-S-M. Of course, the provision of security and easy transportation are frontline issues that have to be addressed before tourism can ever take strong footing in Nigeria. However, if the Nigerian authority has serious intention to promote tourism, then it becomes unclear why historical sites as Slessor’s tomb are kept in general cemetery and under lock. Doesn’t this run contrary to the concept of tourism?
India is big on tourism, and has commenced some initiatives to preserve several historic sites. The Humayun’s Tomb (photo) in Delhi is one of such. The magnificent edifice located on several acres is a tomb-garden that have undergone serious renovation/restoration in the last decade. It was built in 1570. It did serve as a precursor to the more architecturally elegant Taj Mahal; this explains the architectural resemblances between the two.
More New Delhi pictures .
It was interesting to me to read the comment to Jeffrey’s blog, in which the customs of Africans regarding places of burial are contrasted with Europeans. Many European anthropologists have claimed that “ancestor worship” and veneration is a very ancient practice, but perhaps some cultures reserve this for lineage relatives rather than the nation or public as a whole.
Are there African leaders whose grave sites are venerated?
December 18, 2006 at 9:35 am
Don: I can’t think of any in Nigeria. However, there are several instances where prominent society figures are buried within the enclaves of their private residence. These sites are generally not open to the public.
December 18, 2006 at 1:46 pm