The National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) has
confirmed that Nigeria will receive 119 Benin Bronzes from the
Netherlands in June. These artefacts, looted by British forces
during the 1897 attack on the Benin Kingdom, were later acquired by
Dutch institutions.
Of the 119 objects set for
repatriation, 113 were part of the Dutch State Collection, while
six were held by the Municipality of Rotterdam. The official
agreement to return them was signed on Wednesday in the
Netherlands.
The signing ceremony took place
at the Wereldmuseum in Leiden, where many of the bronzes had been
displayed. Nigerian officials and Dutch representatives attended
the event to formalize the long-awaited transfer.
According to NCMM
Director-General Olugbile Holloway, the return of these artefacts
is the result of years of diplomatic efforts. In September 2022,
the NCMM formally requested their unconditional return.
Further discussions took place
in July 2024 at the European Union and African Union conference in
Ethiopia. By November 2024, the Netherlands’ independent Colonial
Collections Committee recommended repatriation, leading to the
decision to return the bronzes.
Holloway emphasized that this
marks the single largest repatriation of Benin antiquities directly
linked to the 1897 British expedition. The artefacts will be
returned in batches, with the first shipment arriving in Nigeria by
June.
Holloway highlighted the
Netherlands’ fair-minded approach and the significant role played
by its embassy in Nigeria. Their support was crucial in
facilitating the repatriation process.
He also expressed gratitude to
Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and the
Creative Economy for its contributions. He specifically
acknowledged Minister Hannatu Musawa for her efforts in ensuring
the return of these valuable cultural pieces.
The
return of the Benin Bronzes represents a major victory for
Nigeria’s cultural heritage. It also signals growing international
recognition of the need to restore looted artefacts to their
rightful owners.
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