More to come after 2 stolen Benin artefacts make their way home from Germany
Royal stools, both wooden and bronze-like, used by Oba Esigie and Oba Eresonye between the 15th and 17th centuries before their return on Saturday were previously in Germany.
All of the Benin Kingdom artefacts that were stolen from the palace by the British colonialists in the late 19th century hold a great deal of significance to the Nigerian people no doubt. They are currently in the process of making their final return yet in the meantime, what is being celebrated is the early arrival of two prized royal pieces vital to great Obas back in the years of their reign.
On Saturday, 18 May, the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, received wonderful guests in his domain that made him quite excited. The monarch reportedly spun into a dance in the moments when he was informed that two artefacts long lost through conquest were being returned.
Royal stools, both wooden and bronze-like, used by Oba Esigie and Oba Eresonye between the 15th and 17th centuries before their return on Saturday were previously in Germany. Their journey to the palace was made possible by the National Commission for Museum and Monument (NCMM) representatives. The items were first taken in 1897 during a British invasion of the Benin palace.
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The pieces had been with the NCMM since 2022 when the Germans returned them to Nigeria. They have only just made it to Oba Ewuare II’s safer hands.
Mr Olugbile Holloway is the Director-General of the NCMM who presented the stools on behalf of the federal government.
NCMM will join hands with the Royal Court to create a befitting destination for people around the world to come and appreciate these works, says Director-General Holloway while presenting to the Oba.
What you see before us was originally taken away from the Royal family in 1897. We have a stool made of Bronze and a wooden stool. I speak for every member of my team when I say that we remain loyal to the Royal Court. If there is anything we can do, we will do to support this laudable initiative.
This heritage is not just [Benin’s] heritage, but Nigeria’s heritage. When we speak of Benin heritage, there is nobody [who] doesn’t know the great works of ours. I appreciate you, we will always do what we can do with our powers to make His Royal Majesty’s lineage in memory.
Several decades of pushing for looted Benin artefacts to be returned to the kingdom had taken long to yield results but it has been better late than ever.
When other sculptures and items camping in Europe with their hard cultural value still intact finally make a return home, there is no question about their resting place after a couple of centuries away.
The Edo Museum of West African Arts (EMOWAA) has been the long-proposed venue to house them, although it seems Benin indigenes disagree. They would rather have a Benin Royal Museum, which would be exclusive to the kingdom and was promised by Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki.
A statement on EMOWAA’s website reads that we are a catalyst for deepening connections between contemporary arts and culture and the rich cultural heritage of West Africa, and a centre of excellence creating opportunities for African and Diaspora artists and scholars, but a press conference hosted by the Coalition of Benin Socio-cultural Organisations two years ago want the holding place of lost artefacts when they have been returned to be Benin-oriented. This means an indigenous and specific scope of the repatriation that gives control to the palace.
The two wooden stools that just returned would precede 39 pieces that the Swedish government had planned to give back to Oba Ewuare II.
Information about their imminent return was disclosed during the visit of [the] Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Annika Hahn-Englund to the king’s palace five evenings ago. I would like to convey the decision of the Swedish government to return 39 artefacts to the Benin kingdom. This is possible because of the cooperation between the two countries in the areas of culture, education and trade.
Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.
