Nigeria To Recover Over 100 Benin Bronzes From Netherlands

Nigeria To Recover Over 100 Benin Bronzes From Netherlands

By Anuoluwapo Lebi

Courtesy of colonization, one of the major exploits of Africa, particularly Nigeria, by the British are Nigerian artifacts. In the 19th Century, the British troops looted Benin Bronzes, from Nigeria- a treasure that was deposited in a Dutch museum.

In a recent development, Netherlands has agreed to return more than 100 Benin Bronzes in her custody.

The 1897 Mass destruction serves as an avenue, where a remarkable number of symbolic and culturally relevant sculptures and carvings were carted away from Nigeria’s Edo State, then known as Benin.

For decades, Nigeria’s stolen treasures continue to beautify hubs of private collectors, museums like Wereldmeseum, where these artifacfs were sold to.

Olugbile Holloway, the director-general of Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), while speaking about the repatriation of Benin antiquities, noted that “the return of the 119 artefacts is the “largest repatriation of Benin antiquities”.

Many of Nigeria’s stolen statues, including figurines, tusks, sculptures of Benin’s rulers, and an ivory mask, made between the 15th and 19th centuries were made of bronze, while some were not, despite that they all share a common name.

Mr Holloway who expressed optimism that a transfer of agreement, to return some of Nigeria’s stolen Bronzes on Wednesday.

In 2022, Germany became the first to return over 20 Benin bronzes in a bid to deal with its “dark colonial history”. Holloway urged other countries to emulate the restitutional steps.

The Dutch Minister of Culture, Education, and Science Eppo Bruins, while stating the significance of repatriation of Nigeria’s stolen Bronzes, noted that “With this return, we are contributing to the redress of a historical injustice that is still felt today,”

The stolen Benin sculptures are highly valued, for their beauty and technical artistry, are of spiritual and historical significance for the people from that part of Nigeria.

The unjust theft of these materials remains a point of pain for the descendants of those from the ancient Benin kingdom.

It is believed that the move for repatriation may increase pressure on other institutions to return the Benin Bronzes, especially the British Museum, which has over 900 artefacts.

Numerous peaceful demonstrations have taken place outside the British Museum as part of a campaign for their return.

However, an act of the British parliament prevents the British Museum from sending them back.

For many individuals in Nigeria, the Benin Bronzes are a potent reminder of the violence of colonialism.

The NCMM has issued formal repatriation requests to museums across the world.

Nigeria has revealed plans to open the Edo Museum of West African Art in Benin City in 2026, designed by the British-Ghanaian architect Sir David Adjaye, to house the largest collection of Benin Bronzes ever assembled.