UK museum to return Benin treasures

The Horniman Museum in London says it has agreed to return to Nigeria 72 objects looted in the 19th Century from the Kingdom of Benin, including 12 brass plaques, known as Benin Bronzes.

Among the artefacts are a brass cockerel and a key to the king’s palace.

This follows a request by Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) in January, according to the BBC.

The museum, in south-east London, says it has consulted with community members, visitors, schoolchildren, academics, heritage professionals and artists based in Nigeria and the UK.

‘All of their views on the future of the Benin objects were considered, alongside the provenance of the objects,’ the museum said.

Eve Salomon, chair of the museum, said returning the objects was ‘moral and appropriate’,.

Salomon added: ‘The evidence is very clear that these objects were acquired through force, and external consultation supported our view that it is both moral and appropriate to return their ownership to Nigeria.

‘The Horniman is pleased to be able to take this step and we look forward to working with the NCMM to secure longer-term care for these precious artefacts.’

The BBC notes that the items from the Horniman’s collection are just some of the artefacts returned to Nigeria in the last few months from museums in the West.

Last month, Jesus College in Cambridge and the Aberdeen University gave back a cockerel sculpture and the head of an oba (king).

[Image: https://pixabay.com/photos/girl-leopard-plaque-bronzes-835600/ (Not necessarily one of the artefacts in the Horniman collection.)]