By John Umeh
Nigeria has recorded another major breakthrough in its ongoing campaign to reclaim looted cultural treasures, as the country on Monday received two additional Benin bronzes — a bronze relief plaque and a commemorative head — repatriated from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, United States.
The artefacts, taken during the 1897 British invasion of the Benin Kingdom, were formally handed over to the Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.
Speaking during the symbolic ceremony, the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, described the return as “a monumental step forward” in Nigeria’s ongoing restitution efforts.
“This moment is historic for Nigeria and especially for the people of the Benin Kingdom,” Musawa said.
“We are in active discussions with several museums and institutions around the world, and this handover is a sign that the process of bringing all our artefacts home has truly begun.”
Musawa also expressed appreciation to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, for facilitating the diplomatic processes that led to the successful return.
The Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Olugbile Holloway, celebrated the development, praising the relentless advocacy by NCMM staff and cultural stakeholders such as Prince Aghatise Erediauwa, who championed the recovery effort.
According to Holloway, the return of the bronzes is far greater than the size of the ceremony:
“What we are witnessing today is the return of a significant part of Nigeria’s heritage.
Though this event is symbolic to Benin, it represents the larger restitution campaign involving artefacts from Benin, Ife, and other ancient civilizations.”
The handover—witnessed by three high chiefs representing the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II—is the latest in a series of global repatriations to Nigeria. Over 2,000 Benin Bronze sculptures, plaques, and artworks were stolen more than a century ago and dispersed to museums and private collections across Europe and America.
Nigeria has, in recent years, intensified its diplomatic engagements with institutions in the US, UK, and Europe to reclaim these cultural assets. This latest return follows the 2023 Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria and the United States, designed to promote cultural cooperation and facilitate the restitution of looted artefacts.
The Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope agenda, which prioritizes cultural revival and national identity, has further strengthened Nigeria’s push for the repatriation of its stolen heritage.
With each returning piece, Nigeria edges closer to restoring the full story of its ancient kingdoms and preserving them for future generations.
