Germany to begin returning Benin bronzes to Nigeria next year
Al Jazeera
German officials say deal reached with museums and authorities in Nigeria to work on restitution plan for a ‘substantial’ number of artefacts.
Germany plans to start returning the artefacts known as the Benin bronzes that are held in its museums to Nigeria from next year, according to authorities. A colonial expedition by British soldiers seized thousands of metal castings and sculptures in 1897 during a raid on the Kingdom of Benin, then separate from British-ruled Nigeria. The “bronzes” – actually copper alloy relief sculptures, many showing court figures – were auctioned off and then spread among institutions from New Zealand to Germany and the United States, with the biggest collection in London.More Related News