Netherlands gives back colonial loot to Nigeria

(MENAFN) In a significant act of restitution, the Netherlands has returned 119 historical artifacts to Nigeria, including royal regalia, plaques, human and animal sculptures, and a ceremonial bell. These treasures, known collectively as the Benin Bronzes, were officially handed over during a ceremony at the National Museum in Lagos on Saturday.

The artifacts were taken during the British invasion of the Benin Kingdom in 1897, when colonial forces looted the royal palace and exiled King Ovonramwen Nogbaisi. The king had resisted British attempts to dominate trade in key commodities such as ivory, palm oil, and rubber.

In a statement, the Dutch government emphasized that the return was “unconditional,” acknowledging that the items were wrongfully taken and should never have been in the Netherlands. It described the transfer as the largest physical return of Benin artifacts to Nigeria to date.

Nigeria has been actively campaigning for the repatriation of looted cultural heritage, with the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) ramping up efforts since 2022. That year, the Horniman Museum in London returned 72 Benin Bronzes, and the Rhode Island School of Design Museum followed with 31 pieces, including a royal bust titled “Head of a King.”

During Saturday’s ceremony, NCMM Director-General Olugbile Holloway emphasized the cultural importance of the items, calling them “embodiments of the spirit and identity of the people.” He called for fairness and respect from the global community.

Nigeria’s successful restitution campaign reflects a broader movement across Africa. In January 2024, British institutions agreed to return over 30 royal artifacts to Ghana, while Oxford University made symbolic reparations to Maasai families in Kenya and Tanzania in the form of livestock in 2023.

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