Switzerland’s Museum Rietberg has recently handed over ownership of 11 looted artifacts to Nigeria, according to officials from the city of Zurich. This significant transfer marks a small step in a long and complex journey to return thousands of cultural treasures taken during the British raid on Edo, the historical capital of the Kingdom of Benin, in 1897. The artifacts, collectively known as the Benin Bronzes, had been scattered across various Western collections, drawing increasing attention from the Nigerian government in recent years.
Dating from the 16th to the 19th centuries, these exquisite pieces were created from materials such as wood, ivory, brass, and bronze, showcasing the artistic heritage of the Benin Kingdom. Among the items returned by Rietberg are a commemorative bronze head from circa 1850, representing an ancestor of a chief, and an ivory tusk narrating the story of a 17th or 18th-century oba. These objects held immense ritual significance and were originally situated in ancestral shrines within the royal palace.
The recent ownership transfer follows a formal claim made two years ago by Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) on behalf of both the Nigerian government and the Kingdom of Benin. This development comes on the heels of announcements from other institutions, such as Cambridge University’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, which recently returned 116 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria.
Corine Mauch, the mayor of Zurich, emphasized the city’s commitment to addressing past injustices related to cultural heritage. “The city of Zurich takes its responsibility seriously,” she stated, underscoring the necessity for a fair handling of cultural items.
In the past five years, approximately 150 original artworks have been physically returned to Nigeria, yet none are currently on public display. Plans for a new Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City were initially set to provide a home for the returned artifacts. However, in 2023, Nigeria’s federal government made a pivotal decision to transfer ownership of the Benin Bronzes to Ewuare II, the ceremonial Oba of Benin and a descendant of the original royal owners. Ewuare II has since announced intentions to construct a royal museum dedicated to these treasured pieces, aiming to preserve and showcase the rich cultural history of the Benin Kingdom.
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