By Sodeeq Kamsela, Abuja
The Nigerian government is expecting the return of 119 looted Benin Bronzes from The Netherlands, a statement by the Dutch Embassy in Nigeria has revealed.
It was gathered that Nigeria has formally requested the return of these artefacts, which were stolen by Britain during its 1897 invasion of the Kingdom of Benin.
The 119 items, originally looted by the British, later made their way to the Netherlands.
The repatriation agreement will see the return of 113 items from the Dutch State Collection and six from the Municipality of Rotterdam’s collection.
The signing ceremony took place at the Wereldmuseum in Leiden, where the Benin bronzes were once displayed.
The Dutch Minister of Education, Culture, and Science, Mr. Eppo Bruins, and the Director-General of Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Olugbile Holloway, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective countries.
According to Anneloes Hoff of the Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands, the artefacts are expected to arrive in Nigeria later this year.
A statement from the Dutch embassy reads: “The Netherlands will return 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, following a request from the Nigerian government. The transfer agreements were signed today by the Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science and the Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM).
“The objects are expected to arrive in Nigeria later this year. This restitution highlights the strong partnership between the Netherlands and Nigeria.
“The Netherlands is returning the Benin Bronzes unconditionally, recognizing that the objects were looted during the British attack on Benin City in 1897 and should never have been taken to the Netherlands,” Hoff said.
Naija Daily News recalls that the British Museum have an extensive collection of Benin artefacts looted during a premeditated attack on the Benin Kingdom during the reign of Oba Ovoramwen.
The Wereldmuseum in Leiden, in the Netherlands also holds extensive Benin Bronzes.
