Netherlands to return Benin Bronzes to Nigeria
The Netherlands is set to return 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, marking a significant milestone in the global effort to repatriate looted cultural artifacts.
The transfer agreement will be signed on Wednesday by the Dutch Minister of Education, Culture, and Science, Eppo Bruins, and the Director-General of Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Olugbile Holloway. The artefacts are expected to be returned to Nigeria later this year.
Of the 119 items, 113 were part of the Dutch State Collection, while six were held by the Municipality of Rotterdam. Minister Bruins emphasized that returning the artefacts helps address historical injustices still felt today. He also commended Nigeria for leading efforts to reclaim colonial-era looted art, noting the return was a testament to the strength of the bilateral relationship between the two countries. “Cultural heritage is essential for telling and living the history of a country,” he added. “The Benin Bronzes are indispensable to Nigeria, and it is good that they are going back.”
Nigeria’s NCMM Director-General Holloway called the return “a historic milestone.” He noted that these 119 artefacts would constitute the largest return of Benin antiquities linked to the British punitive expedition of 1897. Holloway thanked the Netherlands for their cooperation and expressed hope that this action would inspire other nations to return stolen artifacts.
The Netherlands’ move follows similar actions by other countries. In 2022, Germany returned over 1,000 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, and the United States also returned 31 bronzes from museums like the Smithsonian and the Rhode Island School of Design. Additionally, the Horniman Museum in London returned 72 items to Nigeria.
However, the British Museum, which houses the largest collection of Benin Bronzes, has declined to return the artefacts, citing legal constraints. The ongoing repatriation of these treasures is part of a broader movement to address the legacy of Western colonialism and the looting of African heritage.
The return of the Benin Bronzes has sparked debate over where the artefacts should be housed in Nigeria. Former Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki and Oba Ewuare II of Benin had differing views on whether the bronzes should be kept in the Benin Royal Museum or the proposed Edo Museum of West African Arts. In a move that added complexity to the situation, the Nigerian federal government initially suggested taking possession of the items. However, in April 2023, the government officially recognized the Oba of Benin as the rightful custodian of the artefacts.
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