Boston Museum Returns Two Benin Bronzes to Nigeria in “Historic” Repatriation
The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, United States, has returned two Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, marking another step in ongoing global efforts to repatriate artefacts looted from the historic Benin Kingdom. Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) confirmed the development late Monday.
Describing the return as significant, NCMM Director-General Olugbile Holloway said the artefacts represent “a huge part of Nigeria’s history.” He added that the handover is symbolic not just for Benin, but for the country’s broader struggle to reclaim cultural heritage stolen during colonial-era raids.
The Benin Bronzes—hundreds of metal plaques and sculptures crafted from the 1500s—were seized after British forces invaded Benin City in 1897. Many of the priceless artworks were taken as spoils of war and dispersed across museums and private collections worldwide.
In recent years, institutions in Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, and other Western nations have returned several hundred pieces, though experts believe many remain unaccounted for. Nigeria and Benin’s traditional rulers have continued negotiations to secure their full return.
Calling the Boston repatriation a “historic moment,” Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, said discussions with institutions abroad are ongoing. “Soon, the process of returning them all to their rightful owners will begin,” she assured.
The return of the artefacts has also reignited internal debates within Nigeria. Benin’s monarch, the Oba, maintains that the bronzes rightly belong to the royal family from whose palace they were taken. Meanwhile, concerns persist that the newly established Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA) in Benin City may assume custody of the artefacts—a claim the museum has denied.
The handover from Boston adds momentum to Nigeria’s cultural restitution efforts, strengthening calls for the global return of stolen African heritage.
