Netherlands To Return Stolen Benin Bronzes

More Benin Bronzes are coming home – this time from The Netherlands. With 119 objects looted in colonial times being handed back to Nigeria, it’s the biggest such repatriation to date.

The Benin Bronzes – which, despite their name, also include carved ivory, brass sculptures and plaques – are not just artworks. They tell the story of Benin’s rich cultural heritage.

Nigeria hopes to open the Edo Museum of West African Art in Benin City in 2026, designed by British-Ghanaian architect Sir David Adjaye, to house the largest collection of Benin Bronzes ever assembled.

Sources:

1.https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly8397e7gno

2.https://africa.si.edu/exhibitions/current-exhibitions/visionary-viewpoints-on-africas-arts/the-raid-on-benin-1897/

3.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/netherlands-return-119-benin-bronzes-nigeria-2025-02-19/?taid=67b5dce4cc77050001119e32&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

4.https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2021/10/12/stealing-africa-how-britain-looted-the-continents-art

5.https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/20/uk-returns-looted-ghana-artefacts-on-loan-after-150-years

6.https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/west-africa/france-hands-back-26-treasures-looted-from-benin-3614126

https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/benin-bronzes-british-museum-african-heritage-b2138905.html