Cambridge University Will Restore Hundreds Of Benin Bronzes To Nigeria

Bronze Benin at the Horniman Museum. (Wikimedia Commons/Mike Schel)

JAKARTA - Cambridge University plans to return 116 looted artifacts, known as Benin bronze, to Nigeria.

"The Amal Commission has considered and approved the return of 116 historical objects, often referred to as Benin bronze, from the University of Cambridge Archaeological and Anthropology Museum to the National Museum and Monument Commission (NCMM) Nigeria," a Cambridge spokesperson said, citing Sputnik News December 15.

Dia juga mencatat, beberapa perunggu akan ditempatkan di universitas untuk tujuan pendidikan dan representasi budaya Benin.

"Those who return will physically be transferred to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, as legally required by the Republic of Nigeria, and an approach officially supported by Benin's Oba (traditional monoarchy)," he added.

Thousands of bronze was stolen by the British military during the looting of Benin City (in modern Nigeria) in 1897. Later, these historical objects were scattered around the world and could be found in various collections in the West, from where those objects are now, back as part of a recent trend.

The Benin Kingdom is one of West Africa's oldest and most developed traditional countries, among others, known as the unique Edo culture.

The kingdom existed from the 12th to 1897 centuries, when it was conquered by Britain, who exiled the king and burned the Benin palace.

Last year, Cambridge's Jesus College, gave one bronze back to Nigeria. Two bronze medals were returned by Germany among more than a thousand other objects in July.

Meanwhile, in November, the Horniman Museum in southeastern London also returned six bronze. As for Washington'stensive Institution, 29 Benin bronze were returned.

However, most bronze is part of the British Museum collection. According to British law in 1963, the agency was permanently banned from removing any items from its storage.

Nigerian officials have repeatedly called for a bronze medal return. In 2021, Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Information and Culture issued an official request to the British Museum to return the items.

"They must eventually return this because the campaign is getting stronger day by day and, when they see what other museums are doing, they will be forced to return it," said Nigerian Culture Minister Lai Mohammed.

It was recently reported that the British Museum held talks with Greece about the possible return of Parthenon's marbles. However, according to representatives of the British Prime Minister, there are no plans to change laws related to the museum.