In a significant cultural milestone, Museum Rietberg in Zurich has officially transferred ownership of 11 looted artifacts back to Nigeria. This decision, announced by the city of Zurich, marks a pivotal step in addressing the historical injustices surrounding the collection of these treasures. The artifacts, taken during the British raid on Edo, the capital of the Kingdom of Benin, in 1897, are part of a long-standing effort by the Nigerian government to reclaim its cultural heritage.
Commonly referred to as the Benin Bronzes, these artifacts date back to between the 16th and 19th centuries and are crafted from various materials, including wood, ivory, brass, and bronze. They were originally housed in the royal palace of Edo, which was devastated during the colonial incursion.
Among the returned items is a bronze head, commemorating a chief from around 1850, and an ivory tusk narrating the story of a 17th or 18th-century king, or oba. These pieces were integral to ancestral shrines, serving as important ritual objects. While the two highlighted artifacts will be returned to Nigeria, the remaining nine items will remain on loan at the Museum Rietberg.
This transfer follows a formal request made two years ago by Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), representing the Nigerian government and the Kingdom of Benin. It aligns with recent actions by institutions like Cambridge University's Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, which returned 116 Benin bronzes to Nigeria.
Corine Mauch, the mayor of Zurich, expressed the city's commitment to cultural responsibility, stating, "We are convinced that a fair treatment of items of cultural heritage means admitting and actively rectifying past injustices."
Over the past five years, approximately 150 original artworks have been returned to Nigeria, although none are currently on public display. Initially, a new Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City was intended to showcase these bronzes, but plans were altered in 2023 when Nigeria's federal government designated ownership of the bronzes to Ewuare II, the current ceremonial Oba of Benin. He has announced aspirations to establish a royal museum for their exhibition.