Nigeria receives two pieces of Benin bronze from Boston museum that were looted in 1879

NIGERIA'S minister of arts and culture Hadjia Hannatu Musawa has finally received two pieces of bronze artefacts from a Boston museum that were looted during the 1897 Massacre of Benin.

By far the most brutal act of colonial conquest carried out by the British during their subjugation of Nigeria's numerous empires, the Massacre of Benin led to houses, sacred sites, ceremonial buildings and palaces of many high-ranking chiefs being looted. Many buildings, including the palace of the Oba of Benin were burnt down, with the monarch eventually captured by the British consul-general, Ralph Moor and sent into exile, while six chiefs were hanged in Benin City's marketplace.

Most of the plunder was retained by the expedition with some 2,500 religious artefacts, Benin visual history, mnemonics and artworks being sent to Britain. They include over 1,000 metal plaques and sculptures collectively known as the Benin bronzes, while the British authorities auctioned off some pieces of booty to defray the costs of the expedition.

Over recent years, this art had been gradually returned to Benin, with the Horniman Museum in southeast London returning several plaques, figures and ceremonial items in April 2021. In March that year, Scotland's University of Aberdeen agreed to return a Benin bronze artefact also looted during the 1879 raid to Nigeria.

This follows a decision taken by the of University of Cambridge's constituent school Jesus College to return its emblem a bronze cockerel to Nigeria that was forcefully taken in 1897. That year, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State met with German foreign ministry officials to demand the return of precious artefacts looted during the 1897 raid, revealing that he intends to house them in his proposed Edo Museum of West African Art.

In the latest development, Hadjia Musawa, Nigeria's minister of arts, culture, tourism and the creative economy, received the two Benin bronzes. They were repatriated from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in the US and she thanked the minister of foreign affairs Yusuf Tuggar, for facilitating their return.

Hadjia Musawa said: “This is a historic moment for Nigeria, the ministry and the good people of the Benin Kingdom. We are still in conversation with several other institutions that hold these artefacts and soon the process of returning them all to their rightful owners will begin.”

Olugbile Holloway, the director-general of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, also expressed gratitude to all facilitators, including His Royal Highness Prince Aghatise Erediauwa, who led the struggle to recover the pieces. He said: “What we are witnessing today is the return of a huge part of Nigeria’s history.

"While this occasion is symbolic to Benin, it is also symbolic to Nigeria’s broader restitution struggle. We also have objects from Ife, so this event is historic, irrespective of the small gathering.”

This latest repatriation follows a 2023 Memorandum of Understanding signed between Nigeria and the US, aimed at returning looted artefacts and strengthening cultural cooperation. President Bola Tinubu has pledged to restore Nigeria's cultural heritage and promote national identity as part f his Renewed Hope agenda.