By Ifeyinwa Ogwo:
Horniman Museum and Gardens in South London has announced in a news release its readiness to return 72 artifacts looted from Benin City, Edo State in Nigeria during the British military operation in February 1897 to the Nigerian government.
According to the release, the artifacts include 12 brass plaques known as the “Benin bronze,” alter pieces, bells, fans, and baskets, used to decorate the royal court of the Oba of Benin during the 16th century.
In 1897, British forces launched a bloody and devastating military occupation of the Benin Kingdom where thousands of artworks were looted and taken to the United Kingdom as spoils of war, the museum said.
In the release, the director general of Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Abba Tijani welcomed the decision of the Trustees of Horniman Museum and Garden, as a victory for Nigeria and other African countries that fought to recover their cultural artifacts looted during military occupation.
“By the endorsement of the Charity Commission, we look forward to a productive discussion on loan agreement and collaborations between the National Commission for Museums and Monuments and Horniman and Gardens.”
According to the release also, Nigeria’s National Commission requested the return of the items in January, Horniman said, and some of the objects may still be lent to Horniman for display and research.
Eve Salomon, Chair of the museum’s trustees called the transfer moral and appropriate.
