CULTURE
Netherlands returned stolen Benin Bronzes after 120 years
The Netherlands' government has repatriated 119 Benin Bronzes, stolen during the UK's imperial plunder of Benin, back to Nigeria.
Noluthando Buthelezi
Initially used as decorative artefacts in the royal palace, these were originally crafted in ancient Benin by the Edo people, now part of present-day Nigeria. The treasures, which were looted by troops under the command of Sir Henry Rawson during the British Military expedition in 1897, included a bronze bell, ceremonial stall, and royal regalia.
Before The Looting
Before its collapse, British forces led by Rawson raided the Benin Kingdom, known for its advanced political system and rich traditions, over 120 years ago. The attack forced KingOvonramwen Nogbaisi into exile. Hundreds of artifacts were looted and dispersed across museums and private collections in Europe and North America.
Of those 119 items that have been returned, 113 are from the Wereldmuseum in Leiden and six from Rotterdam's city museum.
The Handover
During a return ceremony at Wereldmuseum, attended by high-profile dignitaries, Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments Director-General, Olugbile Holloway, welcomed the Netherlands' move to return the Benin Bronzes.
"For Nigeria, and especially for the Edo people of Benin, the return of these bronzes is not merely symbolic; it is deeply spiritual and restorative," he said.
The handover marked one of the largest single repatriations of African cultural treasures to date. Additionally, Germany agreed to return more than 1,000 additional pieces. Holloway vowed that his organization would work hard to recover more items looted during colonial times.
