Igun bronze casters bemoan neglect of industry

The Igun Guild of Bronze Casters in Benin, Edo State, has said Nigeria is losing hundreds of thousands of dollars yearly arising from government neglect of the industry.Chairman, organising committee of the Igun Bronze Carnival, Mr Victor Osarenren, made this known during a recent interview with journalists in Benin City.Osaremen said, 'I can honestly tell you that by government's neglect of the bronze casting industry, this country is losing hundreds of thousands of dollars every year.'It has tourist potential as it is one of the oldest living arts in the world with the others being the Chinese, Japanese and the Indians old ancient traditions in the world.'But our guild, the famous guild of Igun Bronze casters, has remained for this length of time and pre-dates that of the great Britain which forms their old industrial tradition.'According to him, 'Our guild, given the potential, fame and worth which is cherished round the world, and with our arts in the best galleries round the world, Nigeria is losing unquantifiable sums of money by government not giving it the desired support.'Osarenren further said, 'at the realisation of who we are; what we are; and what we can possibly be, arrangements are in top gear to celebrate the maiden edition of the annual Igun Bronze carnival.'The carnival is borne out of our burning desire to showcase, sustain, enhance and promote our very rich cultural heritage exemplified by our world famous and highly treasured Bronze artworks that are found in some of the richest and most famous galleries and museums throughout the world.'Oba Oguola who reigned between 1280 and 1295 granted us (Igun bronze casters), a royal chapter, thus making our guild one of the oldest and indeed, the most enduring in the world,'' he added.Besides, Osarenren said 'Many foreigners and Nigerian artists, curators, cultural icons, antiquarians, foreign ambassadors in Nigeria and cultural institutes and research scholars have confirmed their participation in the planned four-day event in Benin.He said it was unfortunate that no Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in the state or a Minister of Arts, Culture and Tourism had ever thought it right to visit 'the industry from where those treasured artefacts stolen from the kingdom are produced and are still being produced.
Click here to read full news..