Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) will be responsible for retrieving and preserving the priceless Benin Bronzes.
The decision comes after an agreement with the Oba, or king, of the historic Kingdom of Benin, who was appointed sole owner and custodian of the objects in 2023.
The Benin Bronzes are intricate bronze sculptures and castings that were looted by British soldiers during a raid on the Kingdom of Benin in 1897.
The stolen bronzes are among Africa’s finest and most significant heritage objects and are mostly in Europe.
The NCMM’s director-general, Olugbile Holloway, stated that the Oba does not have the infrastructure to care for the bronzes, and therefore, the NCMM has been given the responsibility to display, conserve, and pursue reparation of the objects.
Holloway expressed optimism that an agreement would soon be reached with Cambridge University for the return of over 100 artefacts.
The return of the Benin Bronzes is seen as a matter of dignity and justice for the Nigerian people, and a step towards undoing the injustice of 1897.
