Reclaiming rare artifacts: Benin bronzes to return home to Nigeria

Return marks a major victory in the global fight to restore Africa’s stolen heritage

ABUJA, Nigeria (MNTV) — A museum in the Netherlands has announced plans to return 119 bronze artifacts looted from the old Kingdom of Benin in West Africa, marking a significant step in the ongoing global effort to repatriate stolen cultural heritage.

The Benin Bronzes, among the most contested artifacts looted during colonial times, were taken by British forces in the 19th century and dispersed across Europe and the United States, reports Africa News.

While the British Museum still holds the largest collection, dozens of these artifacts are housed in institutions worldwide.

The repatriation will be facilitated through an agreement between the Museum Volkenkunde in Leiden and Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments. 

The Kingdom of Benin, from which the bronzes originate, is located in present-day Edo State, Nigeria, and has no connection to the modern nation of Benin.

Olugible Holloway, director of the Nigerian commission, expressed gratitude for the Netherlands’ cooperation and voiced hope that this would encourage other nations to follow suit in returning looted antiquities.

The Netherlands has been actively repatriating artifacts taken during its colonial rule. 

Other Dutch museums have returned treasures from Indonesia and Sri Lanka, including the ‘Lombok Treasure,’ Hindu statues from Java, modern Balinese artworks, and a collection of ceremonial weapons and a royal gold-and-ruby cannon from Sri Lanka.

Dutch Culture and Education Minister Eppo Bruins emphasized the significance of cultural heritage in preserving a nation’s history, stating that the return of the Benin Bronzes was a necessary and rightful step.

Nigeria has been at the forefront of the global repatriation movement, formally requesting museums worldwide to return stolen artifacts in 2022. 

While some institutions in the UK, US, and Germany have already returned Benin Bronzes, this marks the largest single repatriation to Nigeria to date.

The return of these artifacts is not just a symbolic gesture but part of a broader effort to reclaim Africa’s historical narrative and preserve its pre-colonial heritage.