Horniman Museum and Gardens in south-east London said it would transfer a collection of 72 objects to the Nigerian government
Horniman Museum and Gardens in south-east London said it would transfer a collection of 72 objects to the Nigerian government
A London museum on Sunday agreed to return a collection of looted Benin bronzes dating back to the late 19th century in what is now Nigeria as cultural institutions across the UK pressure to bring back artifacts acquired during the colonial era. come in.
The Horniman Museum and Gardens in southeast London said it would transfer a collection of 72 objects to the Nigerian government. The museum said Nigeria’s National Museums and Monuments Commission formally asked for the artifacts to be returned earlier this year and made the decision after consultation with community members, artists and school children in Nigeria and the UK.
“The evidence is very clear that these objects were acquired through force, and external consultation supports our view that it is both ethical and appropriate to return ownership to Nigeria,” said Eve Salomon, chairman of the museum’s board of trustees. Told. Statement. “Hornimann is delighted to be able to take this step, and we look forward to working with NCMM to secure long-term care for these precious artifacts.”
Horniman’s collection is just a small part of the 3,000 to 5,000 artifacts taken from the Kingdom of Benin in 1897, when British troops invaded and occupied the city of Benin as Britain expanded its political and commercial influence in West Africa. The British Museum alone has over 900 objects from Benin, and the National Museum of Scotland has another 74. Others were distributed to museums around the world.
Artifacts include plaques, animal and human figures, and objects of royal regalia made of brass and bronze by artists working for Benin’s royal court. The general term Benin bronze is sometimes applied to objects made of ivory, coral, wood and other materials, as well as metal sculptures.
Countries including Nigeria, Egypt and Greece, as well as indigenous peoples from North America to Australia, are demanding the return of artifacts and human remains amid a global reassessment of colonialism and the exploitation of local populations.
Nigeria and Germany recently signed an agreement for the return of hundreds of Benin bronzes. This was followed by the decision of French President Emmanuel Macron last year to sign more than 26 pieces of Abomée Treasure, priceless artifacts from the 19th-century Dahomey Kingdom, in present-day Benin, a small country located to the west of Nigeria. decided to sign.
But British institutions have been slow to respond.
The British Museum says it has held discussions with Nigerian authorities since at least 2018, and the federal Ministry of Information and Culture submitted a written request for the return of the antiques in October last year.
“The museum is committed to active engagement with Nigerian institutions related to Benin bronze, including pursuing and supporting new initiatives developed in collaboration with Nigerian partners and partners,” the British Museum said on its website.
The Horniman Museum also traces its roots to the era of the Empire.
The museum was opened in 1890, when the tea merchant Friedrich Hornimann opened his collection of artifacts from around the world for public viewing.
In the midst of the Black Lives Matter movement, the museum launched the “Reset Agenda”, which determined to “address the long-standing issues of racism and discrimination within our history and collection, and set itself on a more sustainable course.” resolution” demanded. Future.”
The museum’s website acknowledges that Frederick Horniman’s involvement in the Chinese tea trade meant that Britain benefited from the sale of opium in China and lower prices due to poor compensation and sometimes the use of forced labor.
Horniman also believes that it contains items “obtained through colonial violence”.
These include Horniman’s collection of Benin bronze, which includes 12 brass plaques, as well as a brass cockerel altarpiece, ivory and brass ceremonial objects, brass bells, and a key to the king’s palace. Bronze are currently on display with information acknowledging his forced expulsion from Benin City and his contesting status.
“We believe we are at the beginning of a journey to be more inclusive in our stories and in our practices, and there is much more we need to do,” the museum says on its website. “This includes reviewing the future of collections that were taken by force or in unequal transactions.”