Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) has been entrusted with retrieving and preserving the Benin Bronzes, following approval from the Oba of Benin, the rightful owner of the artefacts.
The bronzes were looted in 1897 by British soldiers from the former Kingdom of Benin and are still largely housed in European museums. A 2023 decree by former President Muhammadu Buhari reaffirmed the Oba’s ownership. However, NCMM Director General Olugbile Holloway noted that the royal palace lacks the necessary infrastructure for their conservation.
With the Oba’s consent, NCMM will now lead efforts to safeguard the bronzes and continue negotiations for their return. Discussions are ongoing with institutions such as Cambridge University, which recently paused its plans to repatriate over 100 artefacts.
“The return of these objects is about restoring dignity and correcting the injustice of 1897,” Holloway emphasized.
