Edo Museum of West African Art to be completed by 2026 and house all Benin artefacts

PLANS are being finalised to open the Edo Museum of West African Art in the capital Benin City to house the largest collection of Benin bronze works ever assembled as the ongoing campaign to get all artefacts looted during the colonial period gathers pace.

During the British colonisation of Nigeria, Benin suffered from some of the worst atrocities ever witnessed when troops invaded the city in 1897, massacring thousands and carting away many priceless artefacts. These historic items made of wood, ivory and bronze, have since found their way into public museums and private collections across Europe.

Of late, however, several European museums such as London's Horniman Museum, have begun returning Nigerian artefacts including bronze statues plundered during the colonial era. Just this week, the Horniman Museum signed an agreement with the Nigerian government to return 72 items, making it the first in the UK to officially take such action on this scale.

On hand to sign the agreement were Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State; Ambassador Sarafa Ishola, the Nigerian high commissioner the UK and Professor Abba Tijani, the head of Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments. Once returned, all these artefacts will be housed at the Edo Museum of West African Art, currently being designed by the British-Ghanaian architect Sir David Adjaye and due to be ready in 2026.

Professor Tijani said: "Hanging on to looted objects is no longer tenable. I think we're seeing a tipping point around not just restitution and repatriation but museums acknowledging their colonial history and that's better history, I think."

Nick Merriman, director of the Horniman Museum, added that after a lot of research and consultation there was no doubt the artefacts had been looted, so there was a moral argument for their return.  He pointed out that this development would lead to a fuller account of how collections have arrived in British museums".

However, he also said it was important to note that some museums are subject to legislation which prevents them from removing items from their collections, whereas others, which are charities such as the Horniman, are allowed to do so. London's British Museum has 900 items from Benin and Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) has issued formal repatriation requests to museums across the world.

Back in January, the NCMM approached the Horniman Museum and after a consultation and with the endorsement of the UK Charity Commission, the Horniman's trustees decided it was moral and appropriate to hand the artworks back. Six will return to Nigeria and for now, the rest of the collection remains in London on loan.

Now, the 1897 Massacre of Benin is viewed by many in the wider context of Britain's desire to break up a wealthy trading competitor and seize its assets. Benin was swallowed into Nigeria under the British Empire before independence was granted in 1960.