I had followed the story and controversy around the Benin bronzes but never had the opportunity to see them. So was thrilled to see an exhibition of a few of them in National Museum of African Art, Washington.
The Benin Bronzes are a group of more than 3000 artworks that were taken by British forces during their 1897 invasion of the Kingdom of Benin, located in present-day Nigeria.
They were sold to private collectors, museums etc.
These pieces, mainly crafted from brass and ivory, consist of plaques and ceremonial objects, showcasing the kingdom’s vibrant cultural legacy.
Since Nigeria’s independence, the country has been asking for their return.
The largest collection was with Germany and U.K.
The countries that have returned are:
1. Germany has returned 20 & promised to send 1100 more.
2. United States: Smithsonian returned 29.
3. UK: The Horniman Museum returned six bronzes in November 2022, and universities like Cambridge and Oxford plan to return over 200 objects collectively.
The Benin Bronze
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Come, explore and fall in love the Beauties of Delhi (Dilli ki Ranaiya’n) and the World with me, Rana Safvi
I have a masters in medieval history from the prestigious Centre for Advanced Studies, Dept. of History, AMU. A firm believer in our Ganga Jamuni Tehzeeb, I am passionate about gaining and sharing knowledge and these days I am doing it via the social media platform.