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British Museum agrees to return looted Benin bronzes to Nigeria

A London museum on Sunday agreed to return a collection of Benin bronzes looted from what is now Nigeria in the late 19th century. Cultural institutions across Britain are under pressure to repatriate artefacts acquired during the colonial era.

The Horniman Museum and Gardens in southeast London has announced that it will hand over 72 of its collections to the Nigerian government. The decision follows a formal request by Nigeria's National Museums and Monuments Commission for the return of the artifacts earlier this year and consultations with community members, artists and schoolchildren in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

“The evidence that these items were acquired by force is very clear, and external consultations have supported our view that it is moral and appropriate to return ownership to Nigeria. ', said Eve Salomon, chairman of the museum's board of directors. "Horniman is delighted to be taking this step and looks forward to working with the NCMM to ensure the long-term care of these priceless artifacts." , are just a few of the 3,000 to 5,000 artifacts taken from the Kingdom of Benin in 1897, when British soldiers attacked and occupied the city of Benin as Britain expanded its political and commercial influence in West Africa. The British Museum alone holds more than 900 objects of hers from Benin, and the National Museum of Scotland has another 74. Others were distributed to museums around the world.

Artifacts include plaques, animal and human figures, and royal regalia made in brass and bronze by artists working in the royal courts of Benin. The general term Benin bronze is sometimes applied to items made of carved ivory, coral, wood, other materials, and metal.

Increased demand for repatriation

Countries including Nigeria, Egypt, Greece, and indigenous peoples from North America to Australia are increasingly seeking repatriation of relics and remains. I am requesting. In a global reevaluation of colonialism and the exploitation of local populations.

Nigeria and Germany recently signed a deal to return hundreds of Benin bronzes. French President Emmanuel Macron last year unveiled more than 26 of his works, known as the Treasures of Abomey, a treasure trove of art from his 19th-century Dahomey kingdom in what is now Benin, a small country west of Nigeria. decided to sign.

But UK agencies have been slow to respond.

The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Information and Culture formally requested the British Museum to return the Benin bronze last October.

The museum said on Sunday it is working with a number of partners in Nigeria on a "thorough and open investigation" into the history of Benin's crafts and the looting of Benin City. 25}

“The Museum is committed to actively engaging with Nigerian institutions regarding the Benin Bronze, including pursuing and supporting new initiatives developed in collaboration with Nigerian partners and colleagues.” The British Museum says on its website:

BLM urges museums to 'reset'

The Horniman Museum also traces its roots back to the Age of Empires.

The museum opened in his 1890 to open to the public a collection of artefacts collected from around the world by the tea merchant Frederick his Hornimann.

Amidst the Black Lives Matter movement, the museum "calls for determination to address the long-standing issues of racism and discrimination in our history and collections and to set ourselves up for a reset agenda." ” has begun.

The museum's website attributed Frederick Hornimann's involvement in the Chinese tea trade to the British selling opium in China, and the benefit of lower prices due to the use of poorly compensated tea leaves. I acknowledge that I have received sometimes forced labor.

Horniman is also aware that he holds items "obtained through colonial violence".

These include Horniman's collection of Benin bronzes, including twelve brass plaques, a brass cockerel altar, ivory and brass ceremonial objects, brass bells, and royal keys. is included. The bronze is now displayed with information acknowledging its forced removal from Benin City and its contested status. We recognize that we are at the beginning of our journey to be inclusive, and we have much more work to do." “This includes reviewing the future of collections obtained through coercive or unequal bargaining.”