Sweden plans to return 40 sacred artifacts from the Kingdom of Benin to Nigeria. A delegation from the Benin Palace is expected to receive the objects in Lagos. Benin's monarch, Oba Ewuare II, has long advocated for the return of the kingdom's cultural treasures.
The Swedish government has also announced plans to transfer 77 objects belonging to the Kallawaya people to Bolivia's Archaeological Museum in La Paz. The collection includes human remains. Sweden announced the transfer of ownership in 2023.
Together, the planned returns connect communities with objects central to their cultural heritage. Such efforts may shape a future in which international collections work more closely with communities of origin.
