Nigeria Receives Two Benin Bronzes Returned From US

Nigeria has taken delivery of two historic Benin Bronzes recently returned from the United States, marking another major step in the country’s longstanding campaign to reclaim cultural treasures removed during colonial-era expeditions.

The artifacts, a bronze relief plaque and a sculpted commemorative head, were formally handed over to the Federal Government in Abuja on Monday. The pieces, originally taken during the 1897 British invasion of the Benin Kingdom, had been in the custody of an American museum before their repatriation.

The Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, described the return as a significant turning point in Nigeria’s global restitution drive. She noted that the government remains in active discussions with multiple international institutions that still hold Benin and other Nigerian antiquities.

The event also featured the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, whose Director-General, Olugbile Holloway, highlighted the broader national importance of the repatriation. He stressed that the historic objects represent far more than Benin’s heritage, saying their return reinforces Nigeria’s wider struggle to correct historical injustices and reclaim lost cultural identity.

Representatives of the Oba of Benin were also present at the ceremony, underscoring the cultural and ancestral significance of the artifacts. The palace has long been at the forefront of advocacy efforts demanding the return of looted royal objects scattered across global museums.

This latest recovery adds to Nigeria’s expanding list of restored heritage items, following years of diplomatic engagements with countries and museums in Europe and North America. It also aligns with ongoing cultural preservation initiatives under the current administration, which has prioritised rebuilding national pride through the restoration of historically significant works.

The government says more returns are expected as negotiations continue with institutions holding other Benin Bronzes and artifacts originating from Ife and various regions across the country.