The word “mausoleum” is derived from Greek from the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, near modern-day Bodrum in Turkey, the grave of King Mausolus, the satrap of the Archaemenid Empire in Caria. His large tomb was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Mausolea are large and impressive constructions for the deceased leader of a tribe, race or group, or another person of importance. Soon after, smaller mausolea became common and popular with the advent of the gentry and noble class in many countries.
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a dead person or dead people. A mausoleum may be regarded as a type of tomb, or the tomb may be inside the mausoleum. A mausoleum without a person’s remains is called a cenotaph. A single mausoleum may be permanently sealed. It encloses a burial chamber either wholly above the ground or within a burial vault below the superstructure.
Balewa’s mausoleum is one of the notable ones in Africa.
One of the notable mausolea in Africa is the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Mausoleum. It is the burial place of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, who was the only prime minister of Nigeria. During the 1966 coup d’etat in Nigeria, Balewa was kidnapped and his body was found by the roadside six days later. He was consequently buried in Bauchi where he was born. The Government of Bauchi first declared his tomb as a nationwide monument on August 29, 1979 by the military administrator of the state, Brigadier Garba Duba.
In November 2017, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari declared the tomb as a national monument. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed it in Abuja at a one-day exhibition of the 100 proposed national monuments in the country. The tomb is located along Ran Road in Bauchi State. The tomb has a very large tower-like structure in front of it. With this, it is indeed a beautiful sight to behold. The monument attracts a number of people every year.
The gigantic walls of the mausoleum tower up to 17 feet.
Construction of the tomb and the building that encloses the grave began in 1977 and it was commissioned in 1979. The majestic site includes a reference library and a mosque. The mausoleum is also a museum which houses the personal effects of late Sir Tafawa Balewa, which includes his wristwatch, radio and cap which were displayed in glass cases. Some visitors go to the tomb to pray. Cameras are also allowed at the site.
This masterpiece befits the person of the former and pioneer leader of Nigeria. People have reported it to be breathtaking. The gigantic walls around it tower up to 17 feet. That is the equivalent of more than five meters. The walls enclose a modest marble structure. The monument was often referred to as the tomb of the Golden Voice of Africa. The tomb is one of the many in the country which house the remains of notable figures.
Tomb was declared as monument alongside others, including Azikwe’s.
In 2017, while the Federal Government declared the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Mausoleum as monument, it also declared the tombs of Nigeria’s first governor-general and president, Dr Nnamdi Azikwa, and that of Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed. These three tombs are also mentioned when others that house the remains of other notable African leaders are mentioned. They include the Kwame Nkurumah Mausoleum, Laurent Kabila’s mausoleum, Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania, Al Hussein Mosque (Cairo) and many others.
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The Tafawa Balewa Mausoleum was declared a monument, this symbolises… despite all happening, we haven’t forgotten our past heroes.
For someone of his cslibredeclaring Tafawa Balewa mausoleum as monument is a wonderful thing from the government.
This mausoleum is a thing of beauty. Nigeria too has monuments it can show of as wonderful treasures of the country. It is a really a nice thing to see.
I think the decision to make these two site as a monumental site by the federal government is a good decision in the right direction because the Nigeria history can not be complete without these people.
TheTafawa Balewa Mausoleum as monument is good decision to remember. It will also serve as a history too
Almost immediately after that, lesser mausolea became frequent and popular with the emergence of the gentry and noble class in a variety of countries.
A tomb is an outdoor structure that is freestanding and built as a memorial. It is designed to enclose the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased individual or individuals.
It is possible to completely close off a solitary tomb. It can surround a burial chamber completely above ground, or it can enclose a burial chamber within a burial vault located below the superstructure.
The structure was sometimes referred to as the tomb of the Golden Voice of Africa, and it is only one of several tombs located around the country that are used to preserve the remains of prominent individuals.
This mausoleum is a work of art, and Nigeria, like many other countries, has other monuments that are beautiful treasures of the country that they can show off. To be able to see something so pleasant is truly a treat.
People have described this masterwork as astounding, and it is fitting that it should be associated with the figure of Nigeria’s former and pioneering leader.
The federal government’s decision to designate these two locations as national monuments is a step in the right way, in my opinion, as neither of these figures would be out of place in the annals of Nigerian history.
Histories are sometimes preserve in monument. It reminds us of who we are, where we are coming from. The set of people mentioned above deserve that as an honor and reminder of the event that surrounds it.
These are monument that reflects our history as a Nigerian. Maintenance culture should be adopted by Nigerian all these monument preserved.
There is beauty in this tomb. It’s true that like any other country, Nigeria has some impressive landmarks to boast about. It’s great to see something so positive taking place.
There are other tombs all around the country that are used to hold the remains of notable citizens, and this one was sometimes known as the tomb of the Golden Voice of Africa.
What a beautiful mausoleum. Tafawa Balewa Mausoleum as monument is a great thing this are history of integrity people our hero, a great leader of our country
Sometimes, monuments preserve history. It serves as a reminder of who we are and where we came from. That honor and recall of the incident surrounding them belong to the group of people described above.
In my opinion, the federal government made the proper choice in designating these two places as national monuments. Monuments are historic pieces of art that tells a story.
These structures are historical. History serves as a reminder of our true selves. I believe the federal government made a wise choice in designating these two locations as significant sites.
Monuments preserve history. It recalls our origins. That honors and commemorates the event’s participants.