London-based Horniman museum has said that it has agreed to return Nigerian artefacts looted in the 19th Century from the Kingdom of Benin. The museum added that the ownership of 72 objects would be transferred to the Nigerian government.
12 brass plaques, known as Benin Bronzes, a brass cockerel and a key to the king’s palace are among the artefacts that will be returned.
The items are to be sent back following a request by Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) in January.
The museum, in south-east London, says it has decided to return the artefacts after extensive consultations with community members, visitors, schoolchildren, academics, heritage professionals and artists based in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
“All of their views on the future of the Benin objects were considered, alongside the provenance of the objects,” the museum said.
The museum’s chair said it was “moral and appropriate” to return them to the country from where they were looted.
In recent times, European governments and museums have faced intense pressure to return looted artefacts.
Eve Salomon, chair of the museum, said: “The evidence is very clear that these objects were acquired through force, and external consultation supported our view that it is both moral and appropriate to return their ownership to Nigeria.”
“The Horniman is pleased to be able to take this step and we look forward to working with the NCMM to secure longer-term care for these precious artefacts.”
These items are just a few of the items returned by museums in the west to Nigeria. Last month, Jesus College in Cambridge and the Aberdeen University returned a cockerel sculpture and the head of an oba (king).
Germany has also returned more than 1,100 stolen artefacts to Nigeria.
