Stolen Legacy Returned: Netherlands to Return 119 Looted Benin Bronzes

 

Nigeria is set to reclaim a significant part of its cultural heritage as the Netherlands prepares to return 119 looted Benin Bronzes in June. These artifacts, originally stolen during the British invasion of the Benin Kingdom in 1897, have spent decades in Dutch museums and collections.

The repatriation agreement was officially signed on Wednesday at the Wereldmuseum in Leiden, the Netherlands, where some of the Benin Bronzes were previously displayed. Of the 119 artifacts being returned, 113 were part of the Dutch State Collection, while six were held by the Municipality of Rotterdam.

Speaking on the development, the Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Olugbile Holloway, emphasized that this milestone was the result of years of persistent negotiations and diplomatic collaboration between Nigeria and the Netherlands.

Holloway revealed that NCMM had formally requested the unconditional return of the artifacts in September 2022. The conversation gained momentum at the European Union and African Union conference in Ethiopia in July 2024, where discussions on repatriation were reignited.

By November 2024, after extensive deliberations, an independent Colonial Collections Committee in the Netherlands issued a favorable recommendation, leading to the Dutch government’s decision to return the 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria.

According to Holloway, the return of these artifacts marks “the single largest physical return of Benin antiquities directly linked to the 1897 British punitive expedition.” The first batch is expected to arrive in Nigeria by June, with subsequent shipments following.

He also highlighted the unwavering support of the Netherlands in facilitating the return, particularly through the Dutch Embassy in Nigeria.

Holloway extended gratitude to the Nigerian government, particularly the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, as well as Minister Hannatu Musawa, for their instrumental role in making this historic repatriation possible.

As Nigeria awaits the return of these priceless artifacts, this development represents not just a victory for the country but also a step towards rectifying historical injustices and reclaiming a vital part of its cultural identity.