---
title: "Benin bronzes: What is the significance of their repatriation to Nigeria?"
description: "After years of pressure, western countries are finally returning priceless artefacts and artworks that had been looted from Nigeria during colonial times and were on display in foreign museums."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "THE CONVERSATION"
author: "Joey Akan, Usifo Omozokpea and Jos van Buerden"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/joey-akan-usifo-omozokpea-and-jos-van-buerden/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-11-25-benin-bronzes-what-is-the-significance-of-their-repatriation-to-nigeria/"
published: "2021-11-25T19:10:04"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 204
---

# Benin bronzes: What is the significance of their repatriation to Nigeria?

> After years of pressure, western countries are finally returning priceless artefacts and artworks that had been looted from Nigeria during colonial times and were on display in foreign museums.

By Joey Akan, Usifo Omozokpea and Jos van Buerden · Published 25 November 2021, 21:10 SAST

## Content

Commonly called the [Benin Bronzes](https://theconversation.com/germany-is-returning-nigerias-looted-benin-bronzes-why-its-not-nearly-enough-165349), because the objects originated from the Kingdom of Benin (today’s Nigeria), these beautiful and technically remarkable artworks have come to symbolise the broader restitution debate.

Two British universities – [Cambridge](https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/oct/15/cambridge-college-to-be-first-uk-return-looted-benin-bronze) University and the University of [Aberdeen](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-59063449) – recently returned two of the artefacts. And, in mid-October, Germany and Nigeria [signed](https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/smithsonian-african-art-benin-bronzes-repatriation/index.html) a memorandum of understanding setting out a timetable for the return of around 1,100 sculptures from German museums.

Jos van Beurden – an expert on the protection, theft and smuggling of cultural and historical treasures of vulnerable states – offers his insights into this wave of repatriation. He also suggests a way forward for Nigeria to handle and harness the benefits of the artefacts.

\[audio mp3="https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/benin-bronze-1-1.mp3"\]\[/audio\]

*Benin bronzes: What is the significance of their repatriation to Nigeria? Released: 2021. Audio: The Conversation.*

***Music:** “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on [FreeMusicArchive.org](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/John_Bartmann/Public_Domain_Soundtrack_Music_Album_One/happy-african-village) licensed under [CC0 1](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/).*

*“African Moon” by John Bartmann, found on [FreeMusicArchive.org](https://freemusicarchive.org/music/John_Bartmann/Public_Domain_Soundtrack_Music_Album_One/african-moon) licensed under [CC0 1.0 Universal License.](http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)*

**DM/ML**

[Media](https://counter.theconversation.com/content/171444/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced)

[This story was first published in*The Conversation.*](https://theconversation.com/benin-bronzes-what-is-the-significance-of-their-repatriation-to-nigeria-171444)

*Jos van Buerden is a researcher, at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Joey Akan is a freelance Arts & Culture Editor. Usifo Omozokpea is an Audience Development Manager.*

\[hearken id="daily-maverick/8881"\]