By Deborah Nnamdi
Nigeria has received two more Benin Bronzes following their return by the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, United States, marking another significant step in the country’s efforts to reclaim looted cultural heritage.
Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) confirmed the development late Monday, describing it as an important milestone in the restorative process. The commission’s Director-General, Olugbile Holloway, said the latest return represents “the return of a huge part of Nigeria’s history,” noting that the artefacts are deeply symbolic not only for the Benin Kingdom but also for Nigeria’s broader struggle to recover stolen antiquities.
The Benin Bronzes—intricately crafted sculptures and plaques dating back to the 1500s—were taken from the royal palace of the Kingdom of Benin during the 1897 British invasion. Thousands were seized as spoils of war and later dispersed across museums and private collections worldwide.
In recent years, several Western institutions, including museums in Britain, Germany, and the Netherlands, have repatriated dozens of the treasures. However, cultural officials say hundreds of the artworks remain unaccounted for, prompting ongoing negotiations between Nigerian authorities, traditional Benin leaders, and foreign museums.
Describing the Boston returns as a “historic moment,” Nigeria’s Minister of Culture, Hannatu Musa Musawa, said talks with various international institutions were advancing and expressed optimism that “the process of returning them all to their rightful owners will begin soon.”
The matter of rightful ownership has long been a contentious issue in Nigeria. The Oba of Benin, as the traditional ruler and descendant of the royal dynasty from whose palace the bronzes were taken, insists the artefacts belong to him. Meanwhile, concerns have been raised within Benin Kingdom that the newly established Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA) in Benin City may assume control of the bronzes once returned. The museum’s leadership has repeatedly denied such intentions.
The latest repatriation adds to the growing momentum behind global efforts to correct historical injustices and restore cultural property to its origins.
