The latest European nation to return cultural artefacts to their African origin is Germany, which, according to German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, has sent 20 Benin bronzes from its museums to Nigeria.
The handovers are the clearest sign yet that progress is being made toward the return of artefacts looted from Africa by Europeans during the colonial era. Last year, Benin bronzes stored in German museums were set to be repatriated.
Germany and Nigeria earlier this year agreed that all 1,130 Benin Bronzes—actually, copper alloy relief sculptures, many of which include court figures—in German public institutions would be handed over.
At the handover, the German Minister for Culture and Media, Claudia Roth, as well as heads of German museums, were present together with the Nigerian Foreign Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, and the Information and Culture Minister, Lai Mohammed.
“Today we are taking a step that was long overdue: We are returning 20 Benin bronzes from German museums to where they belong, to their homeland,” Baerbock told reporters in Abuja.
According to Nigerian officials, some of the artefacts from the Benin Bronze period had been in German custody for over 200 years, while others were kept in private collections and casinos.
Thousands of metal sculptures and castings were taken by British forces in 1897 during a raid on the then-separate Kingdom of Benin.
The Bronzes were sold at auction and sent to museums around the world, with the largest collection being in London.
The British Museum in London, which has the largest and most significant collection of Benin Bronzes, is expected to feel more pressure as a result of the repatriation.
The British Museum was urged to reveal the more than 900 Benin Bronzes it has by Nigeria’s Information and Culture Minister.
