Oba of Benin hails U.S. museums over repatriation of artifacts

The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, has commended three U.S. museums for the repatriation of 31 Benin Bronze artifacts, which were violently taken away from the Royal Palace of Benin by British forces in 1897.

Ewuare II, represented by his brother, Aghatise Erediauwa, gave the commendation at the Benin Bronzes repatriation ceremony in Washington DC on Tuesday.

It was reported that 29 Benin Bronze artifacts were returned by the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, one from the National Gallery of Art, and another from the Rhode Island School of Design Museum.

The traditional ruler said the decision of the Smithsonian was now being emulated by numerous other Museums around the world who had continued to hold onto heritage art.

“The accepted narrative is that works which were looted or acquired in ethical ways should be returned to their places of origin,’’ he said.

According to him, there is no moral or legal basis for persistently retaining cultural property which was looted during military expeditions or in unequal negotiations for that matter.

He said the position of the Government of Nigeria was that all returned artifacts should be handed over to the Head and Custodian of the community from where such works were taken.

(Left) The brother of Oba of Benin, Aghatise Erediauwa; Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Chief Charles Edosomwan of Benin kingdom at the Benin Bronzes Repatriation Ceremony on Tuesday at Washington DC

The Oba recalled the relationship between the Smithsonian and the Royal Court of Benin, noting that the relationship dated back to the reign of his father, Oba Erediauwa, whose portrait has adorned this museum for many years.

“It was Oba Erediauwa who started the agitation for the return of our bronzes. His father before him, Oba Akenzua II, had written to Queen Elizabeth of England II to request the return of a beaded ceremonial robe.

“The request was granted, and we have this robe, and it forms part of coronation regalia. We are expecting soon from Germany some bronze stools which are also used in some palace rituals.

“The clamor and struggle for our religious works started very many years ago and we are grateful to those, on side of truth, acknowledge where these works truly belong.’’

He, however, called on the management of Smithsonian to fulfil its promise to assist in training, capacity building and possibly establishing a foundry in Benin for the benefit of the youth.

“I request the Smithsonian, in conjunction with philanthropist benefactors, assist with financing the construction of the Benin Royal Museum which is the primary abode of our returned artifacts and for which we have a site close to the Palace.

“The museum will be overseen by the Board of Trustees headed by Professor Wole Soyinka and other eminent Nigerians.

“The National Commission for Museums and Monuments have requested and obtained my written mandate to negotiate the return of our Bronzes on our behalf,’’ the Oba said.

It was reported that the ceremony featured cultural performance by Edo Association of DC.

Cultural performance by Edo Association of DC

The Kingdom of Benin is renowned for the exceptional quality and diversity of its royal arts fashioned in copper alloy, ivory, terracotta, wood, iron, and coral beads.

In 1897 during a British raid on Benin, the royal palace was torched and looted, and the Oba (ruler) was exiled.

The British confiscated all royal treasures, giving some to individual officers and taking most to auction in London.

The estimated 3,000 objects eventually made their way into museums and private collections around the world.