The Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at Cambridge University, UK, will shortly send around 100 Benin bronzes to Nigeria as part of a major restitution initiative, according to the Observer newspaper.
The move comes after officials at the university supported a claim in 2022 by Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) for the “return to Nigeria of 116 objects currently held in [the museum] that were taken by British armed forces during the sacking of Benin City in 1897” (‘Benin bronzes’ refers to objects made of brass and ivory as well as bronze).
But returning the bronzes has been delayed for various reasons. In March 2023, Nigeria’s then president, Muhammadu Buhari, transferred the ownership of those Benin bronzes which had been returned to the country—in 2022 the German government agreed to transfer ownership of 1,100 works— to Ewuare II, the current oba and head of the royal family from whom the British stole the treasures.
Nicholas Thomas, the director of the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at Cambridge University, says: “We paused as a clearer framework was needed. In July last year the university council confirmed the transfer [of ownership] should proceed. The bronzes should go back within months.” The remaining 16 bronzes will remain in Cambridge on loan.
Early last year, Olugbile Holloway, the director general of the NCMM, signed a five-year agreement with Ewuare II, allowing his agency to manage the returned bronzes on the oba’s behalf. Plans to build a “royal museum” in Benin City to house the bronzes appear to have stalled however.
The new Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) was scheduled to open last November and expected to house a collection of Benin Bronzes. But the official launch of the highly anticipated museum in Benin City was abruptly halted after a group of protestors broke into the organisation’s main building.
Rumours circulated that the protesters were sent by the oba whose displeasure reportedly disagreements the restitution and safekeeping of the Benin Bronzes, as well as funding.
The dispute between the various political factions in Nigeria has meant that none of these objects have been transferred to the site. Phillip Ihenacho, MOWAA’s director and executive chair, told The Art Newspaper at the opening: “From 2021 onwards, we have tried to make it clear that we are not a receptacle for the Benin Bronzes.” It is unclear when MOWAA will reopen.
The NCMM has meanwhile built a new secure storage facility in Benin City, the ‘Oba Ovonramwen’ facility, that will be used to store and display some of the Benin bronzes. The NCMM is also rebuilding the 1950’s National Museum in Lagos with private funding, which will be the main venue for the returned bronzes, says Barnaby Phillips, author of the new book The African Kingdom of Gold: Britain and the Asante Treasure.
Thomas confirmed that Cambridge’s negotiations have been with the NCMM. “In general, European museums can only return artefacts to government agencies. They may well then determine that the artefacts should be cared for or managed by an indigenous community, or in a museum managed for a traditional authority such as the Royal Court of Benin”, he said.
The latest move puts further pressure on the British Museum, which holds around 900 pieces from the kingdom of Benin, to return works to Nigeria. The British Museum is prohibited from permanently removing items from its collection under a 1963 UK law.
