By EZEKIEL OBI, Abuja-
The Netherlands has formally returned 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, marking the single largest repatriation of artefacts in the country’s history.
The bronzes, looted during the British invasion of the ancient Benin Kingdom in 1897, were handed over at a ceremony at the National Museum Onikan, Lagos.
The Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, described the repatriation as a restoration of national dignity.
“They are the living embodiment of the soul and spirit of the Benin Kingdom. Each bronze carries with it a fragment of the story of our ancestors, our heritage and our shared humanity,” she said.
The returned artefacts include commemorative heads and intricately crafted plaques that showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Benin Kingdom.
“It is a testament to the resilience of a people whose history can no longer be told solely through the lens of loss,” Musawa added.
The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, expressed gladness at the official handing over, thanking individuals and institutions that ensured the artefacts were returned to Nigeria.
The traditional ruler, represented by his first daughter, Princess Iku Ewuare-Aimiuwu, appreciated the efforts made to bring the bronzes back home.
The Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Olugbile Holloway, noted that there are many more Benin artefacts in other museums that have not been returned.
“We just had a meeting last week with the German ambassador also about the bronzes in Germany, an extensive meeting,” he said, revealing plans for the German Government to return over a thousand bronzes to Nigeria.
The Ambassador for International Cultural Cooperation of the Netherlands, Dewi Van de Weerd, said the bronzes depicted the dynamic history and culture of the Benin Kingdom, the people, and their relationships with other societies.
“When individuals understand their roots; where they are from, then they can shape their future,” she added, noting that the Netherlands’ intention is to continue dialogue with other museums that have Nigeria’s artefacts in their collection.
The returned bronzes will be preserved and displayed in Nigeria, with some planned for the Edo Museum in Benin.
