The artefacts, which include figurines, tusks, sculptures of Benin rulers, and an ivory mask, have been housed in the Wereldmuseum in the Netherlands for decades.
The Netherlands has announced plans to return 119 Benin Bronzes looted by British troops from Nigeria in 1897, make it the largest repatriation of Benin antiquities to date.
The artefacts, which include figurines, tusks, sculptures of Benin rulers, and an ivory mask, have been housed in the Wereldmuseum in the Netherlands for decades.
Meanwhile, they were part of the thousands of culturally significant treasures taken during the British invasion and destruction of Benin City, now in Edo State, Nigeria.
Olugbile Holloway, director-general of Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), hailed the move as a landmark decision and expressed hope that it would set a precedent for other nations to follow.
However, a formal transfer agreement is expected to be signed on Wednesday.
Dutch Minister of Culture, Education, and Science Eppo Bruins stated the significance of the return, stating, “With this return, we are contributing to the redress of a historical injustice that is still felt today.”
AFP reports that the sculptures, renowned for their beauty and craftsmanship, hold deep spiritual and historical significance for the people of that region in Nigeria.
The theft of these artefacts remains a source of pain for the descendants of the ancient Benin Kingdom.
Meanwhile, this development could intensify pressure on other institutions, particularly the British Museum—which holds over 900 Benin Bronzes—to return them.
Protests and demonstrations have taken place outside the British Museum as part of ongoing campaigns demanding their repatriation.
However, a parliamentary act currently prevents the institution from returning them.
For many Nigerians, the Benin Bronzes serve as a powerful reminder of the violence of colonialism.
The National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) has submitted formal repatriation requests to museums worldwide.
Nigeria plans to open the Edo Museum of West African Art in Benin City in 2026. Designed by British-Ghanaian architect Sir David Adjaye, the museum aims to house the most extensive collection of Benin Bronzes ever assembled.
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