OVER A 100 LOOTED HISTORICAL BRONZE ARTWORK RETURNED TO NIGERIA BY THE NETHERLANDS

Museums all across the world have pledged in recent years to return artwork and artefacts that were stolen from their original locations. The Wereldmuseum in the Dutch city of Leiden is the most recent organisation to keep its word. Together with the Dutch government, they have given Nigeria back 119 stolen antiques called Benin Bronzes.

The National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) of Nigeria is responsible for these efforts. It has sent repatriation requests to museums worldwide, including the Wereldmuseum, which has housed these relics for many years. The artworks were turned over in a ceremony at the National Museum in Lagos in February after the Dutch institution agreed to return them. This is the largest single repatriation to date, said NCMM Director Olugbile Holloway.

Although not all of these figurines are composed of bronze, they are collectively referred to as the Benin Bronzes. For descendants of the former Benin monarchy, the label alludes to objects that hold historical and spiritual importance. Jewellery, statues, tusks, and even an elaborate ivory mask that belonged to a former ruler of the Kingdom of Benin are among the items created between the 15th and 19th centuries.

The objects are "embodiments of the soul and personality of the people from which they were taken," according to Holloway. Oba Ewuare II, the present ruler and cultural defender of Benin, presided over the handover ceremony and declared that the recovery of the Benin Bronzes was "a testament to the power of prayer and determination."

Their absence served as a sad reminder of the past, just like the Benin Bronzes are a source of pride. British soldiers looted the items during a raid in 1897, which resulted in the Kingdom of Benin joining colonial Nigeria. Ovonramwen Nogbaisi, the Beninese king at the time, was also forced into exile as a result of this incident.

Dutch Minister of Culture, Education, and Science Eppo Bruins states, "With this repatriation, we are helping to remedy a historical injustice that is still felt today." Over 900 Benin Bronzes are currently in the collection of the British Museum, whereas Germany has returned 20 and has committed to returning over a thousand more.

Regarding the returned goods, some have been given back to Oba Ewuare II, while others will be on display at the National Museum. Additionally, in 2026, the Nigerian government intends to open the Edo Museum of West African Art in Benin City, the former location of the Kingdom of Benin. Architect Sir David Adjaye created the structure, which will house the largest collection of Benin Bronzes.