Germany to Return Stolen Benin Artefacts After 120 Years

• Germany has agreed to return artefacts that were stolen from Nigeria during their colonization of Africa

• The priceless Benin artefacts were stolen by the British army in 1897 and they were auctioned off to various museums in Europe

• The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation a body that controls Germany’s Berlin Museums has announced the return process has begun

Over a century after several priceless Benin artefacts were stolen from Nigeria, the country is set to recover some.

European country Germany has agreed to return numerous artefacts that were stolen during the British colonization of Nigeria.

The British troop stole many significant artefacts from the ancient Benin kingdom and many of them have been auctioned to various museums over the years.

Many of these artefacts are culturally significant to the country and they have been calls for them to be returned.

In Germany, Berlin’s Ethnologisches Museum alone holds more than 500 bronze artefacts.

Earlier this year, Germany’s Culture Minister Monika Gruetters stated that the artefacts will be returned starting from 2022.

The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, an organisation that controls Germany’s museum had now stated that the country is in the process of return the artefacts.

The board revealed that discussions are being held with the Federal Government of Nigeria to discuss how the artefacts can be shown in Germany.

Read also: 5 Oldest Buildings in Nigeria

Other Countries to return stolen artefacts too

Asides from Germany, Scotland’s University of Aberdeen announced in March that it would return Benin Bronzes that were acquired “immorally” in 1957.

While France has also approved the return of its Benin artefact holdings, many remain held in various museums across Britain and the United States.

The British Museum has only committed to returning some of the Benin artefacts during an interview with news agency BBC.