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3mo ago

Netherlands to Return 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria in Historic Repatriation

The artifacts, looted during a 19th-century British raid, mark the largest single return of Benin antiquities to date.

(FILES) In this file picture a sculpture with the title 'uhunmwun elao - memorial head of a queen mother' is on display next to other 'Benin Bronzes' during a press preview of the new exhibition halls ahead of their opening at the new Berlin Palace Humboldt Forum in Berlin on September 15, 2022. In December, Germany returned 22 priceless artefacts looted during the colonial era to what is now Nigeria. But five months on, questions are being asked in Germany about the wisdom of the move. (Photo by JENS SCHLUETER / AFP) (Photo by JENS SCHLUETER/AFP via Getty Images)

Overview

  • The Netherlands has agreed to return 119 artifacts, including 113 Benin Bronzes, to Nigeria following an official agreement signed in The Hague.
  • These artifacts were looted during the 1897 British military raid on the Kingdom of Benin, now part of modern-day Nigeria’s Edo State.
  • The return is described as the largest single repatriation of Benin antiquities, which include plaques, royal regalia, and memorial sculptures.
  • The Dutch government acknowledged the artifacts were unlawfully taken and emphasized the importance of cultural heritage in addressing historical injustices.
  • Nigeria has been actively reclaiming looted artifacts, with previous returns from museums in the UK and the US, as similar restitution efforts expand globally.