Sat Jun 21 21:56:31 UTC 2025: **Netherlands Returns 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, Marking Latest Repatriation of Stolen Artifacts**
**Lagos, Nigeria** – In a significant step towards righting historical wrongs, the Netherlands has officially returned 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, marking the latest repatriation of cultural artifacts looted during the colonial era. The sculptures, stolen from the former Kingdom of Benin (modern-day southern Nigeria) over 120 years ago, were formally handed over at a ceremony held at the National Museum in Lagos on Saturday.
The Benin Bronzes, comprising intricate metal and ivory sculptures dating back to the 16th to 18th centuries, were plundered in 1897 when British forces ransacked the Benin Kingdom, forcing the then-monarch, Ovonramwen Nogbaisi, into exile. These artifacts hold immense cultural and historical significance for the Nigerian people.
“These artifacts are the embodiments of the spirit and identity of the people from which they were taken from,” stated Olugbile Holloway, director-general of Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments. He further called for global fairness, dignity, and respect in the handling of such issues.
The repatriation comes amidst increasing pressure on Western governments and institutions to return items acquired during the age of imperialism. Holloway also announced that Germany has pledged to return over 1,000 additional Benin Bronzes.
Four of the returned sculptures are currently on display in the National Museum’s courtyard and will remain part of the museum’s permanent collection. The remaining pieces will be returned to Oba Ewuare II, the traditional ruler of the Kingdom of Benin.
Nigeria formally requested the return of hundreds of Benin Bronzes from museums worldwide in 2022. Since then, 72 objects were returned from a London museum and 31 from Rhode Island in the United States, signalling a growing movement towards the repatriation of stolen cultural heritage to its rightful owners.
First Piper 