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Tag: Looted artefacts

  • Oba of Benin to take custody of repatriated looted artefacts

    Oba of Benin to take custody of repatriated looted artefacts

    The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, has notified the Netherlands Government about Nigeria’s Government Gazette recognising and vesting custody and management of repatriated looted Benin artefacts in the Oba of Benin.

    This is contained in a statement on Monday in Benin, by Mr Iguobaro Osaigbovo, Chief Press Secretary to Ewuare II.

    Ewuare II, notified the Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Wouter Pomp, of the significance of the gazette and Presidential declaration, when the diplomat paid a courtesy visit to the Palace.

    He explained that the future of the Benin Bronzes and artefacts were in the gazette, adding that the ownership, custody and management of the artefacts were spelt out clearly in the gazette.

    “They are spelt out clearly. The ownership, custody, and management, is vested in the Oba as an institution. That is the law.”

    He noted that the ongoing plans for the construction of Benin Royal Museum at the instance of the Nigerian Government was on course.

    According to him, the building of a Benin Royal Museum is a Federal Government project and we have been on it for some time now.

    He recalled that the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Notice No. 25 in the official Gazette No. 57, Volume 110 at pages A245-247, dated March 23, 2023, laid to rest, the simmering tussle between the Palace and Gov Godwin Obaseki of Edo, over who should be the custodian of the artefacts.

    Earlier, in his remarks before the Benin throne,  Pomp congratulated the Oba for redirecting the course of history.

    He pledged his government’s support in strengthening Nigeria in the area of employment, migration and cultural diplomacy.

    “We are very interested in all the history of the Benin Bronzes, some of which as you are aware, are still in the Netherlands.

    “Contacts are underway between Netherlands Commission for Monuments and the Commission for Monuments of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “There has been meetings between the Commissions about the future of the Benin Bronzes,” he said.

  • UK to return another looted artefacts to Oba of Benin Saturday

    UK to return another looted artefacts to Oba of Benin Saturday

    The United Kingdom is set to return two looted artefacts from Cambridge and Aberdeen to the Palace of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II on Saturday, through the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing. This is in adherence to the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    This was made known in a statement issued by Frank Irobor, the Secretary to the Benin Traditional Council, on Tuesday in Benin.

    Irabor said that “The general public is hereby invited to join His Royal Majesty in receiving the Benin Bronzes of Okpa “Cockerel” and the Bronze burst of an Oba (Uhunilao) both from Jesus College, Cambridge in Britain and Aberdeen in Scotland, respectively.

    “The general public is invited to the physical handing over of the Benin Bronze artefacts to the Oba of Benin.

    “All invited guests are to be seated by 11.00 a.m,” the statement read in part.

  • Looted artefacts: FG brokers peace between Gov Obaseki, Oba of Benin

    Looted artefacts: FG brokers peace between Gov Obaseki, Oba of Benin

    The Federal Government says, in line with operative conventions and laws, it will take possession of the 1,130 looted Benin bronzes being expected from Germany.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed disclosed this on Saturday in Lagos at a news conference on the efforts by the federal government to repatriate looted smuggled artefacts from around the world.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the minister was reacting to the controversy that had trailed who will take possession of the expected artefact between the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II and Edo state Governor, Godwin Obaseki.

    TNG reports that while the Oba wanted the artefacts stolen from Benin Palace in 1987 to be returned to a museum to be built within the Palace premises, the governor showed preference for a private trust to take custody and manage the artefacts.

    The Minister however said the federal government was the entity recognised by international law as the authority in control of antiquities originating from the country.

    “The Federal Government is aware of the widely-reported controversy when on who will take possession of the Benin Bronzes when they are returned from Germany.

    “Let me state clearly here that, in line with international best practice and the operative Conventions and laws, the return of the artefacts is being negotiated bilaterally between the national governments of Nigeria and Germany.

    “Nigeria is the entity recognised by international law as the authority in control of antiquities originating from Nigeria.

    “The relevant international Conventions treat heritage properties as properties belonging to the nation and not to individuals or subnational groups,’’ he said.

    The minister cited the 1970 UNESCO Convention, in its Article 1 which defines cultural property as property specifically designated by that nation.

    He said the provision allows individual nations to determine what it regards as its cultural property.

    He, however, noted that the provision notwithstanding, his ministry had been working over the past years to repatriate looted artefacts in partnership with traditional institutions and state governments

    “What we are saying, in essence, is that the federal government will take possession of these antiquities, because it is its duty to do so, in line with the extant laws.

    “We have always exercised this right in cognisance of that culture that produced the artworks.

    “That is why the Ministry of Information and Culture and the National Commission for Museums and Monuments have always involved both the Edo State government and the Royal Benin Palace in discussions and negotiations that have now resulted in the impending return of these antiquities,’’ he said.

    The minister said the federal government was not just involved in the repatriation of Benin artefacts.

    He said his ministry was also working on repatriating Ife Bronzes and Terracotta, Nok Terracotta, Owo Terracotta, the arts of the Benue River Valley, the Igbo Ukwu and the arts of Bida, Igala, Jukun etc.

    Mohammed commended the Government of Germany for taking the lead in the global efforts to repatriate all artefacts that were looted from Nigeria and from the African continent.

    “As I said during the meeting in Berlin, we see Germany as a leader in the efforts to take practical steps to repatriate our stolen artefacts, and we hope Germany will sustain that lead.

    He also applauded the development that the repatriation of the artefacts would be the beginning of a new vista of stronger relations and cultural diplomacy between Nigeria and Germany.

    He disclosed that there would be archaeological training for Nigerians among other benefits accruing from the ongoing talks.

    “The Nigerian side and the German side agreed to Nigeria’s proposal to use the repatriated artefacts and other works of art to inspire Nigeria’s Creative Industry towards realising its high potential.

    “For this and other purposes, it was agreed that the Germans will facilitate the establishment of an academy in Nigeria,’’ he said.

    The minister equally thanked Gov. Godwin Obaseki for his commitment as well as the Oba for sending the Benin Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Ezelekhae Ewuare, to be a part of the Nigerian delegation to Berlin.

  • We’ll return 1,130 looted Nigerian artefacts in 2022 – Germany

    We’ll return 1,130 looted Nigerian artefacts in 2022 – Germany

    German Minister of State for Culture, Monika Grutters has disclosed that 1,130 artefacts would be returned to Nigeria from the beginning of 2022.

    Grutters said this on Wednesday during a meeting with the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed in Berlin, Germany.

    This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the Special Assistant to the Minister of Information and Culture, Segun Adeyemi.

    Mohammed at the meeting earlier demanded a full and unconditional return of the 1,130 Benin Bronzes that were looted from the African nation in the 19th century and domiciled in German museums.

    Grutters at the meeting said “the way we deal with the issue of Benin Bronzes is important to addressing our colonial past.”

    She assured that the artefacts “would be returned to Nigeria from the beginning of 2022”.

    Gutters noted that the fact that Germany has twice sent delegations to Nigeria for talks over the planned repatriation is an indication that both sides have moved beyond mere talks, saying all the Museums in Germany that are holding Benin Bronzes have agreed to cooperate.

    Mohammed, later at a meeting with the German Foreign Minister, Heiko Maas, said there should be ”absolutely no conditions attached” to the return of the artefacts, which he described as an idea whose time has come..

    He said the ongoing discussion between Nigeria and Germany on the return of the art works is not just the end of an era but the beginning of a new vista of stronger relations, pivoted by cultural diplomacy, between both countries.

    Alhaji Mohammed thanked the Government of Germany for taking the lead in the global efforts to repatriate all artefacts that were looted from Nigeria and indeed from the African continent.

    The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, who is also a member of the Nigerian delegation, said a ”transformational” museum is being built in Benin city to house the artefacts upon their return, as part of a new cultural district in the city.