A former Commissioner for Justice of Edo State, Chief Charles Owensuyi-Edosomwan, SAN, has said the retrieved Bini artefacts are not ordinary artworks but marks of Bini spirituality.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria who is also the spokesman of Bini Kingdom in his welcome speech at the presentation of the two artefacts moved from the ancient Benin Kingdom over 100years ago said that:
” It’s a historical event, one that is as groundbreaking as its significant for Benin, it is the return of two rare artifacts that outside people not knowing what they are described as art but two of our objects that underline our spirituality they were looted from here in 1897
“Today through the blessings of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria General Muhammadu Buhari His Excellency the High Commissioner of Nigeria to Great Britain has graciously brought these items.
“It is an emotional moment for the whole Benin, it is a moment that tells us that no matter how long the night is, the day will break, the dawn of the return of our artifacts that are scattered all over the world which provenance goes to 1897 it’s just breaking, your majesty in your time you will receive all of them.
“So we thank you for being part of history by coming here to witness this great event, all those of you who have travelled to come here, we welcome you, your coming shall be attended by blessings, Benin spirituality will bless you.
TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) recalls the artefacts, mostly in Europe, were stolen by explorers and colonisers from the Benin Kingdom, now southwestern Nigeria, and are among Africa’s most significant heritage objects.
They were created as early as the 16th century, according to the British Museum.
The Consulate-General of Nigeria in New York has taken custody of three Benin and Ife artefacts from the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) in New York.
The Director-General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Prof. Abba Tijjani, received the artefacts from the museum in company of the Consul-General of Nigeria in New York, Amb. Lot Egopija.
The MET currently houses about 160 works of arts from Nigeria, which were mostly donated by individuals who were said to have acquired them in the art market.
Tijjani, who later signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MET, commended the museum for returning the artefacts to Nigeria, urging other museums in possession of Nigerian artefacts to follow its exemplary gesture.
The director-general said the issue of repatriation was now at the heart of the people looking at museums particularly in Europe that these artefacts were not their own yet they displayed them.
“We are looking forward to collaborating with the MET because we cannot exist in an island, for example, the museum cannot be working in Nigeria without collaborating with partners outside the country.
“So, we are looking forward to collaborating with MET now that we are friends and we understand each other and we want to see how we can work together,’’ he said.
“We have about 52 museums across the country under the commission, and we have 65 monuments and sites and staff working in the museums will require modern training.’’
Similarly, Tijjani called for collaboration between MET and NCMM on exhibition, scholarship and capacity building of the staff and getting the required curators
Noting that exhibition is key to reaching out to the public, he said “Nigeria is very passionate about the way it exhibits its artefacts and we feel that it will be good if we collaborate and rob minds when it comes to joint exhibitions.
“There is a need for us to exhibit our works in a way that we understand it and we want people to understand these artefacts too,’’ he said.
The director-general said he was looking forward to signing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MET in those areas and other areas of mutual areas.
Also speaking, MET Director, Max Hollein said the shared commitment to future exchanges of programmes would form part of the MoU.
“We have we had long lasting relationships, the museum is committed to a responsible process in collaborating in areas of standards as well as to study works that have been in our collection.
“It’s an ongoing effort to learn to exchange and to find the right solutions,’’ he said.
Hollein said MET would be pleased to initiate the return of Nigeria’s works and remain “committed to transparency and the responsible collecting of cultural property”.
He said the signing of the MoU was a meaningful way to show dedication of MET with NCMM, adding the possibility to exchange more on different levels on scholarship, exhibitions and other ideas that we might have together.
“We at the MET are so pleased to establishing the framework of exchange with Nigeria and we are looking forward to collaborating together,’’ Hollein said.
The two 16th-century Benin brass plaques and the 14th-century Ife brass head were later taken to the Consulate-General of Nigeria in New York for eventual return to Nigeria at a later date.
Today, Cambridge University became the first British institution to return to Nigerian authorities a Benin bronze stolen from the country in 1897.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the bronze cockerel named Okukor was taken from the Benin Kingdom during a punitive expedition in 1897 when thousands of bronzes were looted by British forces.
The bronze cockerel was looted by British colonialists from the palace of the King of Benin and was given to Jesus College, a college of Cambridge in 1905 by the father of a student.
Cambridge University handed over the statue of the cockerel to a delegation from Nigeria, led by Professor Abba Issa Tijani from Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments in a ceremony that took place at Jesus College.
Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments received the Benin bronze from Jesus College on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Royal Court of Benin.
A decision for it to be returned was made in 2019 after students campaigned, following which the statue was removed from display at the college in 2016.
The return of Okukor, described by the college as a “royal ancestral heirloom” is expected to spark a wave of repatriation ceremonies, as the cultural world continues to reckon with concerns over the ethics of plundered historical artefacts.
According to Sonita Alleyne, master of Jesus College, returning the artefact was the “right thing to do” and that the bronze piece was of “cultural and spiritual significance to the people of Nigeria”.
“It’s massively significant. It’s a momentous occasion. It’s part of their ancestral heritage,” Ms Alleyne added.
Meanwhile, the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II had expressed excitement at the return of the bronze.
The Oba thanked the student body of Cambridge for “bringing to light the historical significance of this revered piece of the royal court of Benin”.
“We are indeed very pleased and commend Jesus College for taking this lead in making restitution for the plunder that occurred in Benin in 1897.
“We truly hope that others will expedite the return of our artworks which in many cases are of religious importance to us,” he said.
TNG reports after Jesus College announced its decision to return the bronze in November 2019, a host of regional museums committed to or said they were also considering returning artefacts.
The UK retains hundreds of Benin bronzes – plaques and sculptures dating to the 13th century, made by artisans from the Edo culture.
They were distributed from private collections and in some cases donated by soldiers who took part in the 1897 looting.
Historically, much of the focus has been on the British Museum, which holds 900 objects – the largest collection in the world.
No fewer than 7,000 artefacts plundered from Benin Kingdom are expected to be repatriated by Germany to Nigeria not later than October, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said.
The Permanent Secretary, Amb. Gabriel Aduda, disclosed this at the Inaugural Nigerian Cultural Show exhibiting Nigeria’s diverse cultural heritage, sites and traditional festivals held at the Cultural Centre, Nigeria House, New York.
Aduda also said the reparation of the artefacts would go with building an ultramodern museum in Edo and the training of some curators that would man the artefacts.
He said Nigeria had reached an advanced stage of discussions with Germany to return thousands of different pieces of Benin Bronzes back to the country.
The Nigerian official said the ministry had been at the forefront alongside relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to facilitate the repatriation of thousands of Benin artefacts from the Republic of Germany.
“We are working with relevant MDAs, we have had several high level meetings with the republic of Germany and we are at stage where thousands of art works are to be returned to Nigeria.
“There are over 7,000 different pieces of artefacts that Republic of Germany wants to give back to Nigeria,’’ he said.
“We have talked deep into this that the reparation is not only at giving back, but they are coming to put a modern day museum in Edo State and they are training 25 curators that will man the museum for sustainability.
“We have gone far and we are thinking that this will be concluded in October this year.
“We are hoping it will be a window to reach out to other European countries to return to us what was taken from us years back,” he said.
The permanent secretary commended the Consulate-General in New York for inaugurating in April, a Culture Centre and Library, equipped with books, cultural artifacts, research materials and historic documents on Nigeria for public use.
A South-South Cultural dance troupe performing at the Inaugural Nigeria Cultural Show at the Culture Centre, Nigeria House, New York
He said the participants were part of history as Cultural Centre hosts its first Cultural Show, saying “I believe that we will leave this event with a better understanding of our country.
“Also, with a heightened sense of admiration for our rich and unique ancestral heritage that has been the bedrock of our unity as a nation.
“We are encouraged by your interest and being a part of our story telling today and I invite you to Nigeria to witness these festivals coming up later this year.’’
Aduda said the Argungu International Fishing Festival and the Osun-Osogbo Festival promoted at the event are just two of the many festivals that characterise Nigeria.
In his remarks, a New York Senator, Sen. Robert Jackson, urged Black people to be proud of their race and culture.
“If we are not proud about out race and culture, how do you expect other people to do it for us?
“I have come to be part of the cultural event and to learn about the rich culture of Nigeria,’’ he said.
Also Speaking, Amb. Cuthbert Ncube, Chairman of the African Tourism Board, said culture was a viable tool for development and should not be underestimated as the colonial masters did.
Ncube said the board was open to engaging like-minded stakeholders as Africa re-writes its own narratives and starts identifying the capacities God had deposited in its citizens.
“Culture is a veritable social capital deployed for growth and development and can translate to economic and technological capital,’’ he said.
The New Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event, with the theme “Nigeria: Our Community, Cultures and Unity’’, also showcased Nigeria’s cultural dance troupes, musical performances and cultural fashion displays.
The Show was organised by the Consulate-General of Nigeria, New York, in collaboration with the New York African Chorus Ensemble, the African Tourism Board and the Nigerian-Americans Public Affairs Committee.
The Consul-General of Nigeria in New York, Amb. Lot Egopija; his Atlanta counterpart, Amb. Amina Smaila; and Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Amb. George Edokpa, were among the dignitaries that attended the event.
The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has ordered that no one, whether in government or acting independently should engage in “disrespectful exchanges” with the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, over stolen artefacts.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by the Secretary to the Edo State Government, Osarodion Ogie.
The monarch had earlier said, following a statement issued by the Edo State Government which revealed that a “transformational” museum would be built in Benin to house the artefacts upon their return, the rightful destination of the artefacts should be the Benin Royal Museum.
Edo government in the statement issued on Monday allayed fears of a conflict between the state government and the Oba of Benin, adding that Governor Obaseki will maintain his immense respect for the monarch.
“The attention of the Edo State Government (EDSG) has been drawn to the widely publicised media statement issued by the Palace of His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II.
“The Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has displayed and will continue to display immense respect for our traditional institutions and therefore will continue to make effort to secure a private audience with His Royal Majesty to discuss his concerns.
“The Governor has consequently ordered that on no account should anyone, whether in government or acting independently, engage in disrespectful exchanges and/or altercation with our revered Royal Majesty and the Benin Royal Palace,” the statement read in part.
The Edo State government added that its earlier statement appears to have created the impression that there is a major conflict between its interests and His Royal Majesty with regards to the laudable national milestone of having our highly valued artefacts returned home to Nigeria.
“The Government of Edo State and the Governor have always acted transparently and in consonance with existing Federal and State laws in all matters relating to the proposed return of the artefacts and monuments.
“The actions of the government thus far on this issue have been driven by selfless, patriotic considerations and in the best interest of Edo State and Edo people,” the statement added.
Governor Obaseki also expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed and other officials of the federal government “for their patriotic and tireless efforts that have brought us to the verge of this eagerly anticipated achievement which has remained elusive for over a century.”
The National Museums and Monuments , Lafia, Nasarawa State, say it is eady to partner with traditional rulers in its campaign to stop demolition of monuments and the selling of artifacts.
The curator of the museum in the state , Mrs Elizabeth Kefas, gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia on Saturday.
She expressed concern that monuments and artifacts, regarded as sgnificant in history keeping, were being sold, ignorantly in the state.
According to her, partnering with traditional rulers, who are the custodians of cultures and traditions, and and highly respected by their subjects, will help the museum in its campaign.
The curator explained that the museum served as history-keeping channel to communicate history and cultural heritage through pictorial forms, textbooks, monuments and artifacts for the posterity.
“We have been working hand-in-hand with the traditional rulers as custodians of cultures and traditions.
“We will partner with them as we intensify enlightenment campaign against demolition of monuments and selling of artifacts.
“If you want to get correct history, go to the museum.
“Others hardly keep history but museums keep history for posterity; we have gallery stock with textbooks about cultures as well as artifacts,” she said.
Kefas said the establishment would not relent in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities, adding that the future of traditions and cultures lied with museums.
She commended the state government, particularly the Ministry of Information and Culture for creating enabling environment for her office to operate.
The curator she,however called on the new administration in the state to give the museum a befitting place to keep the artifacts.
The curator said she was determined to make the National Museum, Lafia, a hub in line with the 2019 International Museum Day/ Monument celebration with the theme: “Museum as cultural hubs, the future of tradition.”
“We used the recently celebrated event to call on the good people of Nasarawa to bring their artifacts for safe keeping in the museum instead of selling them.
” We can make Lafia National Museum a cultural hub.”(
The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has urged the Prince of Wales and heir apparent to the British Monarch, Prince Charles to assist in facilitating the return of Benin artefacts to the country.
The monarch made the call, on Tuesday in Abuja, when Prince Charles received some traditional rulers during a visit to Nigeria, the final leg of an eight-day tour to three West African countries.
The prince and his wife, Princess Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, who are visiting together, were in The Gambia and Ghana earlier.
The artefacts were said to have been carried away from the Royal Court of Benin in 1897.
“Nigerians in general and Benin people in particular will be most delighted to have Your Royal Highness throw his weight behind our efforts to have some of our ancient artefacts that were taken in 1897 from the royal Court of Benin returned to establish Oba Palace Museum for the promotion of tourism in Benin city.”
The monarch further commended the relations between the United Kingdom and Nigeria and appreciated the Queen of England, Elizabeth II for sending representatives during his coronation as the 40th Oba of Benin.
He also appreciated the support of the UK in Nigeria’s fight against human trafficking, adding that fight against human trafficking is still a work in progress.
As part of his scheduled, Prince Charles, who is seeking greater role for traditional rulers in nation building, held discussions on issues bordering on insecurity, climate change demographic explosion amongst others.
Prince Charles and Princess Camilla would visit Lagos on Wednesday, where they will engage the business community on a wide range of businesses, trade and investment.
Turkish Police have seized more than 26,450 ancient artefacts from numerous Middle Eastern civilisations in a massive sweep which also netted 13 smugglers.
The artefacts include coins, jewellery, stone art and small figurines, hailing from Roman, Byzantium, Ottoman and other cultures, according to images broadcast on Thursday by Haberturk television.
The raids took place in five separate locations and are being seen as one of the largest such crackdowns ever in the country.
Turkey has recently stepped up efforts to stop smuggling.
Armed groups in Syria and Iraq, in particular Islamic State, had profited off smuggling such artefacts out of war zones through Turkey.
