Cambridge University in the United Kingdom has officially transferred legal ownership of 116 Benin artefacts to Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM).
The items, which include brass casts, ivory carvings, and wooden sculptures, were looted by British forces during the 1897 punitive expedition in Benin City. The university described the repatriation as a significant step in addressing the colonial-era dispossession of cultural heritage.
The decision follows a formal restitution request submitted by the NCMM in January 2022. Cambridge’s Governing Council endorsed the claim, with final authorization granted by the UK Charity Commission.
While most of the artefacts will be physically returned to Nigeria, a small selection will remain in Cambridge on loan and will continue to be displayed at the University’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (MAA) for public and academic access.
NCMM Director-General Olugbile Holloway hailed the move as a “pivotal point” in cultural restitution efforts, stating that it restores “the pride and dignity that was lost when these objects were taken.”
Professor Nicholas Thomas, Director of MAA, noted that the return reflects years of sustained dialogue with Nigerian stakeholders and aligns with a growing global consensus on repatriating objects taken during colonial conflicts.
The repatriation adds momentum to ongoing efforts by museums across Europe and the United States to return Benin bronzes and related artefacts to Nigeria.
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