Netherlands returns 119 historic Benin Bronzes stolen from Nigeria
They were looted in 1897 when British forces led by Sir Henry Rawson invaded the Benin Kingdom, now part of southern Nigeria, and exiled its monarch, Ovonramwen Nogbaisi, for six months.
The Netherlands has repatriated 119 historic sculptures to Nigeria that were taken from the former Benin Kingdom during the colonial era.
The sculptures were officially received at the National Museum of Lagos on Saturday in a ceremony presided over by officials from Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) and the Dutch ambassador for International Cultural Cooperation, Dewi van de Weerd.
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Known as the Benin Bronzes, the sculptures are metal and ivory artworks dating from the 16th to 18th centuries. Four of the pieces will be displayed permanently in a museum courtyard, while the rest will be returned to the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, the traditional ruler of the Kingdom of Benin in southern Nigeria.
They were looted in 1897 when British forces led by Sir Henry Rawson invaded the Benin Kingdom, now part of southern Nigeria, and exiled its monarch, Ovonramwen Nogbaisi, for six months.
Speaking on the development, NCMM Director-General Olugbile Holloway noted that the return of the artefacts symbolises the restoration of the pride and dignity of the Benin people, whose heritage was taken during the colonial era.
"The return of the cultural artefacts should not be viewed as just the return of physical objects but also as the restoration of the pride and dignity of the people they were taken in the first place. This is a proud moment not just for the Benin People but also for all Nigerians," he said in a statement on Facebook ahead of the ceremony.
At the event, Holloway also revealed that Germany has committed to returning over 1,000 similar artefacts stolen during the colonial era.
"These are embodiments of the spirit and identity of the people from whom they were taken. The German government has signed a transfer agreement to hand over 1,000 Benin Bronzes back," said Holloway.
In recent years, Nigeria has intensified efforts to recover cultural artefacts taken during the colonial era, resulting in several successful repatriations from Western countries.
For example, in 2022, Nigeria officially called for the repatriation of numerous artefacts held in museums across the globe. That year, approximately 72 pieces were sent back from a London museum, while another 31 were returned from an institution in Rhode Island, USA.
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