Nigeria on Monday received two historic Benin bronzes, a bronze relief plaque and a commemorative head, in another major step toward reclaiming artefacts looted from the Benin Kingdom in 1897.
The Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy took delivery of the items from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after they were repatriated by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Expressing gratitude to the Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, described the return as a landmark achievement.
“This is a significant moment for Nigeria and the people of the Benin Kingdom,” she said.
“We are in ongoing discussions with other institutions holding these items, and we believe this process of returning them to their rightful owners will expand in the coming months.”
Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Olugbile Holloway, commended individuals and groups involved in securing the return, including NCMM staff and Prince Aghatise Erediauwa, a long-standing advocate for restitution.
Holloway said the return represents the recovery of a critical piece of Nigeria’s cultural legacy.
“While today’s handover is especially meaningful for Benin, it also reflects Nigeria’s broader restitution efforts. We have significant items from Ife and other regions still abroad, so this event is symbolic and historic,” he added.
The brief ceremony was attended by three high chiefs representing the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare, according to a statement from the minister’s Special Adviser, Nneka Anibeze.
The Benin bronzes, more than 2,000 brass and bronze works seized during the British invasion, are scattered across museums and private collections worldwide.
Nigeria has recently stepped up diplomatic outreach to recover them, winning commitments from several institutions in the US, UK, and Europe.
Monday’s handover follows a 2023 Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria and the United States focused on returning looted cultural objects and enhancing cultural collaboration.
The development aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, which prioritises the restoration of national heritage and the promotion of cultural identity.
