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Cambridge Returns Looted Artifacts to Nigeria
11 Feb
Summary
- University of Cambridge is returning 116 artifacts looted during a 19th-century military expedition.
- The artifacts, known as Benin Bronzes, were ransacked by British forces in 1897.
- Legal ownership has transferred to Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments.
The University of Cambridge is returning 116 artifacts, known as the Benin Bronzes, to Nigeria. These historical items were looted by British forces during a military expedition in 1897. Legal ownership of the artifacts, which include bronze plaques and various sculptures, has now been transferred to Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM).
Nigeria formally requested the return of these items in 2022. The NCMM views this repatriation as a restoration of lost pride and dignity. This development is part of a growing movement by African nations to reclaim cultural heritage held by Western institutions following colonial rule.
Other recent repatriations include 72 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria by London's Horniman Museum in August 2022, and 31 items by the Rhode Island School of Design Museum. In June of the previous year, the Netherlands returned 119 artifacts to Nigeria. Some countries, like Ghana and Uganda, have received items under loan agreements rather than outright ownership transfers.
