LONDON– A London museum in a recent information has agreed to return a collection of Benin Bronzes looted in the late 19th century to Nigeria.
According to ABC News on Monday the Horniman Museum and Gardens in southeast London said that it would transfer a collection of 72 items to the Nigerian government.
The decision comes after Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments formally asked for the artefacts to be returned earlier this year and following a consultation with community members, artists and schoolchildren in Nigeria and the U.K.
The museum said; “The evidence is very clear that these objects were acquired through force, and external consultation supported our view that it is both moral and appropriate to return their ownership to Nigeria.
Eve Salomon, chair of the museum’s board of trustees, added in a statement; “The Horniman is pleased to be able to take this step, and we look forward to working with the NCMM to secure longer term care for these precious artefacts.”
The British Museum alone holds more than 900 objects from Benin, and National Museums Scotland has another 74. Others were distributed to museums around the world.
The artifacts include plaques, animal and human figures, and items of royal regalia made from brass and bronze by artists working for the royal court of Benin.
