A London museum says it has agreed to return to Nigeria artefacts looted in the 19th century from the Kingdom of Benin.
The Horniman Museum in London announced that ownership of 72 objects would be transferred to the Nigerian government. The items include 12 brass plates, known as Benin Bronzes, a brass cockerel and a key to the king’s palace.
The museum, in south-east London, says it consulted community members, visitors, school children, academics, heritage professionals and artists from Nigeria and the UK.
“All their views on the future of Benin’s objects were considered, along with the provenance of the objects,” the museum explained in a statement.
In recent years, political pressure has increased on European governments and museums to return the looted artefacts.
Eve Salomon, president of the museum, explained that “the evidence is very clear that these objects were forcibly acquired, and external consultation has supported our view that it is moral and appropriate to return them to Nigeria.
08/08/2022
