00:00Outside, the new John Randall Center for Yoruba Culture and History is bold and intriguing.
00:09The unusual architecture and colors reflect the vibrant energy of the Yoruba culture.
00:17Stepping in, it takes you into a whole new world, starting with this installation, The
00:24Story of Creation According to Yoruba Mythology.
00:28This is a tale many have heard of, but here it comes alive.
00:33Aside from displaying historic relics, the center uses modern audiovisual media to give
00:40an immersive experience.
00:43This multimedia installation teaches visitors about different masquerades.
00:49In Yoruba culture, masquerades are figures that connect the living and the spiritual
00:55worlds.
00:56They are often displayed during festivals or rituals, accompanied by lots of music and
01:02dancing.
01:04This masquerade is called Egungu.
01:08This is one of the features that people really like.
01:11As you can see, the screen is responsive.
01:14The image on the screen basically moves and responds to every move I make.
01:19I'm supposed to be dancing, but I can't dance.
01:22So, I think it's fun.
01:28This museum is the first of its kind in West Africa, using advanced technology to document
01:35the story of a major indigenous tribe from its origin to the present day.
01:41Everything here is intentionally designed to not only teach people about history, but
01:47to make them feel history.
01:50The lightning was very, very low, so we were like, what's happening?
01:55Then we saw this, like a statue of a crown with beads, so it gave ancient Yoruba vibes.
02:07Aspects of Yoruba culture, from politics to business, fashion and religion, are on display
02:14here.
02:15The labels are also written both in English and in the native Yoruba language.
02:21For the creators of the center, it's a chance to tell an original story that reminds Africans
02:27of their indigenous culture and heritage.
02:31Centers like this become like a kind of a counter-narrative, where people can say, you
02:36know, we are actually people, we had history, we had stories, way before colonialism, way
02:41before our first encounter with any European.
02:44So for me, if you use centers like this, create that avenue where you can start to do almost
02:50like archaeological work to remember.
02:53It's a space for remembering, really.
02:56The center is set up similarly to a museum, but director Oni Keku says referring to it
03:02as a heritage center instead is a way to shift the colonial mindset associated with museums.
03:10It's something that comes across strongly to people visiting.
03:14We are taking charge of the narrative like never before.
03:19So this is absolutely different from what I've seen in the UK, what I've seen in Italy,
03:25because it's finally the turn of Africa being told by Africans.
03:30And to me, that is absolutely magical.
03:33The center was created through a joint effort between Yoruba historians, architects, artists
03:40and the Lagos state governments.
03:42They are hoping it will inspire others to set up similar heritage centers across the
03:47continent.
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