Germany hands first of Benin Bronzes back to Nigeria

BERLIN, July 1 (Reuters) – German authorities on Friday returned to Nigeria the primary two of greater than 1,100 priceless sculptures often known as the Benin Bronzes that had been looted by Europeans within the nineteenth century.

British troopers looted some 5,000 of the artifacts – intricate sculptures and plaques relationship again to the thirteenth century onwards – after they invaded the Kingdom of Benin, in what’s now southwestern Nigeria, in 1897.

The spoils made it into museums round Europe and the USA.

“This can be a story of European colonialism. We should always not neglect that Germany performed an lively function on this chapter of historical past,” mentioned German Overseas Minister Annalena Baerbock at a Berlin ceremony marking the switch.

The primary two bronzes, one depicting the top of a king, the opposite exhibiting a king and his 4 attendants, shall be taken again personally by Nigerian Overseas Minister Zubairu Dada and Tradition Minister Lai Mohammed, who had been current on the ceremony.

“I’m delighted to be a part of this auspicious occasion which, for my part, will go down as one of the crucial necessary days within the celebration of African cultural heritage,” mentioned Dada.

Germany’s determination to hold out one of many largest ever repatriations of historic artifacts displays a dawning consciousness in Europe of the persevering with political relevance of colonial looting and violence previously.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz has sought to rally rising international locations in opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a activity sophisticated by a view, widespread within the International South, that anger on the invasion is hypocrisy on the a part of former imperialists who themselves have episodes of violence and pillage of their previous.

“We acknowledge the horrific outrages dedicated underneath colonial rule,” mentioned Tradition Minister Claudia Roth. “We acknowledge the racism and slavery … the injustice and trauma which have left scars which might be nonetheless seen at the moment.”

Germany will assist finance a museum to be in-built Benin Metropolis to accommodate the repatriated bronzes.

Reporting by Thomas Escritt

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