The University of Cambridge has officially transferred ownership to Nigeria of 116 African works of art seized by the British Army at the end of the 19th century.
These objects, commonly known as the Benin Bronzes , were taken during the British military expedition of 1897 to Benin City, in what is now Edo State, in southern Nigeria.
The announcement was made jointly by the British university and the Nigerian National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) . Both institutions indicate that preparations are underway for the physical return of the artifacts, which could take place before the end of the year .
A heritage preserved in Cambridge for over a century
The pieces in question — sculptures, commemorative heads, plaques and metal jewelry — are currently housed in the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Cambridge. They were part of a large collection of works produced between the 15th and 19th centuries in the former kingdom of Benin, renowned for the refinement of its art and its cultural significance.
Highly valued for their artistic quality, these objects also have a major spiritual and historical dimension for the communities of the region.
The restitution follows an official request from Nigeria submitted in January 2022. The university had supported this approach, which was subsequently validated by the British Charity Commission , paving the way for the transfer of ownership.
According to Nigerian authorities, the artifacts will be displayed in museums in Lagos and Benin City , with the eventual creation of a permanent exhibition.
Cultural cooperation and partial restitution
While the majority of the works will be returned to Nigeria, 17 pieces will remain temporarily in Cambridge on loan for an initial period of three years. They will thus continue to be accessible to the public, students, and researchers.
The university emphasizes that this restitution is part of a long-term collaborative effort with Nigerian institutions, the royal court of Benin, as well as artists and academics from the country.
For Olugbile Holloway , executive director of the NCMM, this restitution goes beyond the purely material dimension. "It's not just about recovering objects, but about restoring a sense of pride and dignity that was lost when these works were removed from their context," he said.
For his part, the director of the Cambridge museum, Nicholas Thomas , welcomed a growing international movement in favor of the return of cultural property acquired in a context of colonial violence, highlighting the massive support of the academic community for this approach.
