Nigeria To Receive Looted 119 Benin Bronzes From Netherlands
The Netherlands has agreed to return 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, with the official transfer agreement set to be signed on Wednesday by Dutch Minister of Education, Culture, and Science, Eppo Bruins, and the Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Olugbile Holloway.
According to a statement from the Dutch embassy, the artefacts, which are from the Dutch State Collection and the Municipality of Rotterdam, are expected to arrive in Nigeria later this year.
Bruins described the restitution as a step toward correcting historical injustices, acknowledging Nigeria’s long-standing efforts to recover its looted cultural heritage.
He commended Nigeria’s leadership in advocating for the return of colonial-era artefacts.
“The restitution contributes to redressing a historical injustice that is still being felt today. We congratulate Nigeria for being at the forefront of efforts to reclaim colonial looted art. For over fifty years, Nigeria has advocated for the return of the Benin Bronzes. This restitution is a testament to the enduring strength of our partnership with Nigeria,” he said at the signing ceremony in Leiden, Netherlands.
Holloway hailed the return as a historic achievement, noting that it marks the most extensive repatriation of artefacts directly linked to the British punitive expedition of 1897.
“The return of 119 objects from the Netherlands will represent the most extensive return of Benin antiquities directly linked to the 1897 British punitive expedition.
We thank the Netherlands for their cooperation and hope this will set a good example for other nations in terms of repatriation of lost or looted antiquities,” he said.
The Netherlands follows Germany and the United States, which have also returned Benin Bronzes to Nigeria in recent years.
Germany repatriated 1,030 artefacts in 2022, while three U.S. museums returned 31 items the same year. The Horniman Museum in London also returned 72 pieces.
However, the British Museum, which holds the largest collection of Benin Bronzes, has refused to return them, citing legal restrictions.
The return of the artefacts has sparked debates in Nigeria over where they should be housed, with former Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki and Oba Ewuare II of Benin expressing differing views on whether they should be kept in the Benin Royal Museum or the Edo Museum of West African Arts.
In 2023, the Federal Government officially recognised the Oba of Benin as the rightful custodian of the artefacts.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
