A British museum announced plans to return dozens of artifacts it has determined were wrongfully taken by force over a century ago to Nigeria.
The Horniman Museum and Gardens will give 72 artifacts back to Nigeria, including the famous Benin bronzes that were taken from southern Nigeria during a British invasion in 1987, the museum’s board explained. The move comes in response to a request from a Nigerian agency overseeing cultural preservation efforts.
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“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,” Eve Salomon, chairwoman of the board of the museum, explained in a statement, according to a press release.
Horniman officials consulted with a variety of its staffers and academics before concluding that it should return the objects. The National Commission for Museums and Monuments, a Nigerian entity that aims to preserve the country’s cultural artifacts, made the request for those objects to be returned in January.
Some 12 Benin bronzes, famous sculptures made around the 16th century in the West African Kingdom of Benin, will be returned to Nigeria. Additional artifacts slated for return include brass ceremonial objects, a brass cockerel altar piece, and objects such as baskets, fans, and a key to the king’s palace, according to the release.
Abba Tijani, the director of the commission, said the group “very much welcomes” Horniman’s move and is eager to collaborate with the British museum in the future, ABC reported.
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Representatives from Horniman will discuss the details of the transfer of ownership and will also collaborate on the prospects of retaining some of the artifacts on loan for continued display and research.
In recent years, Nigeria has worked to reclaim artifacts deeply rooted in its history that have been scattered throughout the world. Last fall, for example, France and a British university agreed to return a slate of Benin bronzes to Nigeria, the outlet said. In July, Germany also returned two Benin bronzes back to Nigeria.
