Sweden Returns 39 Benin Artefacts to Nigeria After 129 Years

Nigeria has received 39 historic Benin artefacts from Sweden, marking another milestone in the country's efforts to recover cultural treasures taken during the colonial era.

The handover ceremony took place in Lagos on Thursday, November 12, 2026, with representatives of Sweden's National Museums of World Culture transferring the objects to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM).

The artefacts were among thousands of cultural treasures seized by British forces during the 1897 invasion of the Benin Kingdom. The military expedition resulted in the destruction and burning of parts of the kingdom, while valuable royal and cultural objects were taken away.

The returned collection includes traditional Benin cultural objects known as Emwin Arre. However, six of the 39 pieces will remain in Sweden under a 10-year loan agreement, allowing them to be retained there temporarily.

Michael Barrett, curator for Africa at Sweden's National Museums of World Culture, described the restitution as a significant move towards addressing the historical injustice associated with the removal of cultural property during colonial rule.

The latest return adds to a growing international effort to restore Benin's cultural heritage. In 2025, the Netherlands returned 119 Benin artefacts to Nigeria, while Germany transferred 20 pieces in 2022.

The return of the objects represents an important development in Nigeria's campaign to reclaim historical treasures held in foreign museums and institutions. It also renews attention on the need to preserve the cultural heritage of the Benin Kingdom for future generations.