The Èsìẹ́ National Museum, located in Èsìẹ́ Town within Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, houses more than 2,000 images and objects. It was the first Museum to be established in Nigeria as at 1945 when it was opened by the then British Colonial Government.

Èsìẹ́ town itself is an archaeological site in which over 1,000 soapstone figures of men, women, children and animals are located and were originally discovered in Year 1775 in a grove surrounded by Peregun trees.

HISTORY
Actual origin of the Èsìẹ́ stone carvings remains a mystery, because the community has no historical antecedence as stone carvers. Archeological objects collected from this area have been dated between the 12th and 15th centuries and were perhaps associated with the nearby ancient Yoruba kingdom.

Prince Baragbon, a renowned hunter, had migrated from old Oyo and settled in the area. Baragbon was said to have founded Èsìẹ́ town in 1770. He discovered the stone carvings in a grove of Peregun trees...


To read more and see more photos:

https://naijaphilia.com/2021/11/29/did-you-know-a-nigerian-museum-has-the-largest-collection-of-soapstone-carvings-in-the-world/