- The Benin Bronzes will now belong to a local royalty, the Oba of Benin, but Britain has decided to repatriate them to Nigeria, according to The Telegraph. The Kingdom of Benin, which is now a part of Nigeria, was the source of the thousands of works of art known as the Benin Bronzes, which were stolen by British soldiers in 1897. The artworks include ivory tusks, masks, sculptures, and brass plaques.
- According to the story, museums all around the UK, including the Kelvingrove Gallery in Glasgow and the Horniman Museum in London, have agreed to provide the artefacts to the Nigerian government so they can be shown in a museum. Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin, a lineal descendant of the kings of the ancient kingdom, would now be the owner of the repatriated treasures, according to a proclamation from Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari.
- According to the report, some proponents of reparations for slavery believe that returning the bronze statues to this emperor is unfair and foolish because his forefathers benefited from the slave trade.
- According to reports, Ewuare II and his tribe council want to keep the artworks in the ruler’s personal gallery. Germany has also agreed to give Nigeria its Benin Bronzes, and a new museum will be constructed in Benin City to hold them.
- The Edo people of the Kingdom of Benin, present-day Nigeria, produced a collection of metal plaques, sculptures, and masks known as the Benin Bronzes during the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries. These pieces reflect the history, culture, and power of the kingdom and have political, religious, and artistic value.
- The intricate interactions between Benin and other African kingdoms, as well as European traders and explorers, are reflected in some of Africa’s most significant works of art. The ownership of the bronzes and their restitution have been contentious, with some Western institutions agreeing to restore them to Nigeria.
- However, according to a proclamation issued by the president of Nigeria, Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin, who is a descendant, would now be the legal owner of the repatriated artifacts.
- Due to agreements and timelines between various institutions and nations, it is uncertain how many Benin Bronzes will actually be returned to Nigeria. 1,100 Benin Bronzes will be returned by Germany, while one contentious bronze has been returned by the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.
- The Smithsonian Institution ceded ownership of 29 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments, while France has authorized the return of its collection. Over 900 artifacts from the former Kingdom of Benin have been demanded back by the British Museum, but the choice will be made after consultations with Nigerian colleagues.
- A traditional palace in Nigeria received two Benin Bronzes back in February 2022, more than a century after British troops had looted them.
- The Benin Bronzes will now belong to a local royalty, the Oba of Benin, but Britain has decided to repatriate them to Nigeria, according to The Telegraph. The Kingdom of Benin, which is now a part of Nigeria, was the source of the thousands of works of art known as the Benin Bronzes, which were stolen by British soldiers in 1897. The artworks include ivory tusks, masks, sculptures, and brass plaques.
- According to the story, museums all around the UK, including the Kelvingrove Gallery in Glasgow and the Horniman Museum in London, have agreed to provide the artefacts to the Nigerian government so they can be shown in a museum. Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin, a lineal descendant of the kings of the ancient kingdom, would now be the owner of the repatriated treasures, according to a proclamation from Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari.
- According to the report, some proponents of reparations for slavery believe that returning the bronze statues to this emperor is unfair and foolish because his forefathers benefited from the slave trade.
- According to reports, Ewuare II and his tribe council want to keep the artworks in the ruler’s personal gallery. Germany has also agreed to give Nigeria its Benin Bronzes, and a new museum will be constructed in Benin City to hold them.
- The Edo people of the Kingdom of Benin, present-day Nigeria, produced a collection of metal plaques, sculptures, and masks known as the Benin Bronzes during the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries. These pieces reflect the history, culture, and power of the kingdom and have political, religious, and artistic value.
- The intricate interactions between Benin and other African kingdoms, as well as European traders and explorers, are reflected in some of Africa’s most significant works of art. The ownership of the bronzes and their restitution have been contentious, with some Western institutions agreeing to restore them to Nigeria.
- However, according to a proclamation issued by the president of Nigeria, Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin, who is a descendant, would now be the legal owner of the repatriated artifacts.
- Due to agreements and timelines between various institutions and nations, it is uncertain how many Benin Bronzes will actually be returned to Nigeria. 1,100 Benin Bronzes will be returned by Germany, while one contentious bronze has been returned by the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.
- The Smithsonian Institution ceded ownership of 29 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments, while France has authorized the return of its collection. Over 900 artifacts from the former Kingdom of Benin have been demanded back by the British Museum, but the choice will be made after consultations with Nigerian colleagues.
- A traditional palace in Nigeria received two Benin Bronzes back in February 2022, more than a century after British troops had looted them.
