Nigeria’s museum agrees with royal ruler on custody of Benin Bronzes
Queen accompanied on an excursion by her servants. Roosters and women's heads - components of looted art (Benin bronzes), which were sold to Germany, among others, in the course of the colonization of Africa by the United Kingdom in 1897. The Benin Bronzes are a group of several thousand metal plaques and sculptures that decorated the royal palace of the Kingdom of Benin, in what is now Edo State, Nigeria. Collectively, the objects form the best examples of Benin art and were created from the thirteenth century by artists of the Edo people. In addition to their great art-historical importance, they also play an important role in the international discussion about the return of cultural property of colonial origin. Halftone print after a photograph, published in 1899.
|Published 2:22 PM ET, Monday March 3, 2025|
Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) has reached an agreement with the Oba of Benin, the traditional ruler, regarding the custody of the Benin Bronzes—artifacts looted by British forces in 1897.
This collaboration designates the NCMM as the primary entity responsible for retrieving and preserving these cultural treasures, aligning with a 2023 presidential decree that recognized the Oba as the rightful owner and custodian of all returned bronzes.
Currently, the Oba’s palace lacks the infrastructure to display the bronzes. In response, the Oba, with NCMM’s support, is working to establish the Benin Royal Museum, which will eventually house some of these artifacts. This initiative underscores a commitment to restoring cultural heritage and addressing historical injustices.
In parallel, the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) is set to open in Benin City in May 2025. While MOWAA will not directly house the returned bronzes, its establishment aims to bolster Nigeria’s capacity to manage and showcase its rich heritage, challenging past notions about Africa’s ability to preserve its cultural assets.
These developments reflect a forward-thinking approach to cultural restitution, emphasizing collaboration and infrastructure development to ensure that returned artifacts are preserved and appreciated within their cultural context.
For a visual overview of this development, you might find the following video informative:
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