By Agency Report
Germany will start returning Benin bronzes to Nigeria in 2022, the country’s foreign and culture ministries said on Friday.

They said in a statement that the move was part of a growing trend to return cultural artifacts seized during the colonial era to their places of origin.

Britain’s soldiers seized thousands of metal castings and sculptures in 1897 during a raid on the Kingdom of Benin, then separate from British-ruled Nigeria.

The “bronzes” —- actually copper alloy relief sculptures, many showing court figures —- were auctioned off and then spread among institutions from New Zealand to Germany and the U.S.
The biggest collection was in London.

“In addition to maximum transparency, we primarily aim for substantial restitution,” German Culture Minister Monika Gruetters said in the joint statement issued with the foreign ministry and German museums.

“We want to contribute to a common understanding and reconciliation with the descendants of the people who were robbed of their cultural treasures during the times of colonialism,” Gruetters added.

The Ethnologisches Museum in Berlin has more than 500 historical artifacts from the Kingdom of Benin in its collections, mostly bronzes.

The University of Aberdeen in Scotland said last month it would return a Benin bronze to Nigeria within weeks, one of the first public institutions to do so.

The British Museum, which holds hundreds of the sculptures, has alongside several other museums formed a Benin Dialogue Group to discuss displaying them in Benin City, some officially on loan.

Plans are underway in Edo to build a centre to store and study the returned artifacts by the end of 2021, and a permanent museum by 2025.

The German ministries issued their statement in conjunction with German museums that are part of the Benin Dialogue Group.(NAN)

’https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/458638-germany-to-start-returning-benin-bronzes-from-2022.html

What about all the revenue generated using the stolen artefacts? Won't they return the money?

Watch how our govt officials will host the German delegation that will return those stolen artefacts to a red carpet reception as though the items being returned weren't stolen in the first place or acquired illegally.

This foreigners started yahoo first, just that they came physically.

After all these years, thank the gods

Good

Is this our problem in Nigeria now?

How many Nigerians visit Museums here in Nigeria? These artefacts will just be wasting in our museums except for the few private schools students who will visit to see them in the Museums during excursions. If not that they were stolen, I would have preferred them being borrowed to these countries where the artefacts will generate funds for the real owners of these artefacts. Tourism in Nigeria doesnt sell, the security, political and economic conditions of the country don't encourage tourism

They've made enough fx from possessing them all these years...shior!!!



-Lloyd

The gods are coming home to roost...

War is loading..

Britain hasb been stealing from Nigeria even till date

After they have made a fortune from it through tourism. They are better over there sef as our maintenance culture is poor. They will just be returning them for returning sake!

They carry our ancestors go....yet the gods didn't visit them

What the Portuguese? when will they return theirs.

Better they keep it..... it's useless to us.....Either someone steals it or it rots away.

Besides the country is too insecure for tourists.

Please keep it

SmartProf:
Watch how our govt officials will host the German delegation that will return those stolen artefacts to a red carpet reception as though the items being returned weren't stolen in the first place or acquired illegally.

So you want them to kill him? why do you guys love to rant unnecessarily like this.

Mehn, this shit is getting really annoying on this forum

2022...return to Nigeria or Biafra?

Great

Hope Nigeria and Bini people can maintain the history behind these artifacts

Even in Germany too

femi4:
The carry our ancestors go....yet the gods didn't visit them

Na here them they get power to hinder their young men not to prosper.

That's a good idea. It should have been sooner.
https://africhistory.com/stolen-african-artefacts/

ZeroWorries:
What about all the revenue generated using the stolen artefacts? Won't they return the money?

Yahoo boy don collect ham and them still they collect ham self

EDORODION!!

Thanks

Liposure:

’https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/458638-germany-to-start-returning-benin-bronzes-from-2022.html

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!

Lots of things can happen between the time it lands Nigeria and gets into the hands of the Oba

ZeroWorries:
What about all the revenue generated using the stolen artefacts? Won't they return the money?

is it ur money

The spirits living inside don dey show them shege...

For what

Good news.

I have great respect for the ancient kingdom of Benin.

Evidence that the black race was never backward.