Unveiling New Glass Beads Production Site in Ile-Ife: Yahuza Rabiu Garba’s pioneering discovery
Yahuza Rabiu Garba, a young historian and archaeologist hailing from Yobe State, has made a groundbreaking discovery in Ile-Ife: the identification of another ancient glass bead production site.
Through six months of intensive study focused on Igbo-Olokun beads in the region, Garba’s research has yielded significant insights into the historical and cultural context of the Yoruba people.
Beads are integral to the cultural tapestry of Africa, serving as vibrant threads that intricately bind communities across the continent. Beyond mere adornments, beads embody identity, spirituality, and history, adorning ceremonial attire, signifying social status, and marking significant rites of passage.
They endure as enduring symbols of heritage and tradition, bridging past with present and guiding the way forward amidst Africa’s evolving cultural landscape.
READ ALSO: Meet Shehu Balami: The Nigerian who invented a rocket
The discovery challenges previous perceptions, as Igbo-Olokun was conventionally regarded as the sole ancient glass bead workshop in the region. However, Garba’s findings unveil the existence of a second production site, opening new avenues for research and exploration. Garba was, who is a research fellow with the Geoth-Institut Nigeria, and he is under the supervision of one of the greatest Archaeologists in the country, Professor Adisa Benjamin Ogunfolakan and Dr. Abidame Babalola.
The recognition of Igbo Olokun as a glass-working workshop has long been established, but earlier accounts dismissed the beads as imports, until recent archaeological analysis revealed the unique composition of glass indigenous to the region.
The later research was carried out my Garba’s two supervisors Ogunfolakan and Babalola. Garba’s discovery underscores the importance of ongoing archaeological research in unraveling the complexities of past civilizations, inviting fellow researchers and enthusiasts to join him on this captivating journey of exploration into Yoruba ancestry.
Garba’s discovery serves as a testament to the enduring allure of archaeology and its transformative impact on our understanding of Africa’s rich civilizations. As well as rich Yoruba culture and civilization in the ancient time.
Yahuza Rabiu Garba, a Yobe historian/archaeologist (Yobe State Univ., M.A. Bayero Univ. Kano), publishes on decolonising African cultures & traditional technologies.
Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va74ZvU2v1IqKByXoX3d
Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com