Netherlands to return Benin's stolen statues in Nigeria

The Netherlands says it will return more than 100 bronze to Benin, which British troops plundered from Nigeria in the late 19th century and ended up in the Dutch Museum.

Thousands of these culturally significant sculptures and threads were stolen during the violent destruction of the city of Benin, in the country of Edo in modern Nigeria, in 1897.

The treasures were sold, some of the private collectors and others in museums such as Wereldmuseum in the Netherlands, which has shown these artifacts for decades.

The return of 119 artifacts is “the largest repatriation of Benin's antiquities,” said Olugil Holloway, CEO of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments of Nigeria (NCMM).

Despite the name, not all statues are made of bronze. These include figurines, tusks, sculptures of the rulers of Benin and an ivory mask. They were made between the 15th and 19th centuries.

A transfer of an agreement must be signed on Wednesday. D -Hhloway added that he hoped to give a good example for other countries.

In 2022, Germany was the first to return over 20 bronses to Benin in an attempt to cope with his The Dark Colonial History.

“With this return, we contribute to the compensation of the historical injustice that is still felt to this day,” said Dutch Minister of Culture, Education and Science EPPO Bruins, AFP reports.

The sculptures, appreciated for their beauty and technical artistry, are of spiritual and historical importance to the people of this part of Nigeria.

Their theft still remains a pain for the descendants of those of the ancient Kingdom of Benin.

This move may increase pressure on other institutions to return Benin's bronze, especially to the British Museum, which has over 900 artifacts.

The protests and demonstrations were held outside the British Museum as part of a campaign to return them.

However, the act of parliament prevents the British Museum from sending them back.

For many in Nigeria, bronze Benin is a powerful reminder of the violence of colonialism.

NCMM has released official demands for repatriation of museums around the world.

Nigeria said it plans to open the Edo Western African Museum in the city of Benin in 2026, designed by British-Gan architect Sir David Ajay, to collect the largest collection of bronze ever gathered.