The Jos Museum, also known as the Jos National Museum, stands at Museum Close in Jos, the capital of Plateau State in central Nigeria. It is one of the country's oldest museums, and it makes a rewarding stop for anyone interested in the deep past of West Africa and the living traditions of its peoples.
What you will see
The museum's collections centre on archaeology, traditional arts and cultural exhibits. Its best-known holdings are the Nok terracotta sculptures, figures made by the Nok culture, which is associated with the region and with some of the earliest sophisticated art in sub-Saharan Africa. Alongside these, the museum displays other ancient artefacts and objects that show the variety of craft and daily life across the country.
Visitors interested in art history will find the terracottas especially absorbing. Those more drawn to cultural heritage will appreciate how the traditional arts and exhibits place objects in their wider human context.
Planning your visit
- Location: Museum Close, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
- Also known as: Jos National Museum
- Contact: +234-73-464666
Because opening arrangements and other practical details can change, it is sensible to telephone the museum before you set out to confirm what is open and when.
The wider area
Jos sits on the Jos Plateau, and the cooler air of the highlands sets it apart from much of the rest of Nigeria. Combining a museum visit with time in the city and its surrounding plateau makes for a well-rounded day or two, giving you a sense of both the region's ancient history and its present-day landscape.