Latest news with #OlugbileHolloway
Telegraph
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Cambridge under pressure to return Benin Bronzes as Nigeria promises museum display
Cambridge University is under pressure to return the Benin Bronzes it promised to Nigeria three years ago after Nigerian authorities said they would not disappear into the collection of a king. The university has been assured that the treasures will be placed in a museum. In 2022, Cambridge museums pledged to return a collection of 116 artefacts taken by British forces from the Kingdom of Benin, now part of Nigeria, in 1897. Muhammadu Buhari, then the president of Nigeria, decreed that they would go to the Oba of Benin. The oba is the historic leader of the Benin ethnic group, which initially created the bronzes, and his people believe him to have ancestral rights to them. This prompted concerns that the ruler might keep them in his private collection, and in 2023 Cambridge paused the planned return. Now Nigerian officials have pushed for their urgent return after promising that the treasures would be placed in a museum. It comes after the Netherlands pledged to return 119 Benin artefacts, comprising 113 bronzes that are part of the Dutch state collection, and the remainder from the municipality of Rotterdam. Olugbile Holloway, the director of Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), said: 'The oba has given the NCMM the blessing to display, conserve and to pursue reparation of these objects. So, there is no more ambiguity. 'The return of these objects is not just about displaying them in the museum or taking care of them. It is about the dignity of our people and undoing the injustice of 1897.' British troops launched a punitive expedition against the Kingdom of Benin in 1897 after trading officials were abused. After capturing the capital, Benin City, troops looted the royal palace and took thousands of treasures, which were dispersed across Western museums and private collections. Cambridge's Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology came to hold 116 bronzes, which it pledged to return at the same time Oxford's Pitt Rivers and Ashmolean museums promised to hand over their 97. While Cambridge had delayed its return over concerns about what would happen to repatriated artefacts, Oxford's case was held up by the Charity Commission. The regulator is required to sign off any decision to give away artefacts held by a charity, such as a university. The case has still not been resolved.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Netherlands to return stolen Benin Bronzes to Nigeria
The Netherlands says it will return more than 100 Benin Bronzes that British troops looted from Nigeria in the late 19th Century and which ended up in a Dutch museum. Thousands of these culturally significant sculptures and carvings were stolen during the violent destruction of Benin City, in modern-day Nigeria's Edo state, in 1897. The treasures were sold, some to private collectors and others to museums like the Wereldmuseum in The Netherlands, which has displayed these artefacts for decades. The return of the 119 artefacts is the "largest repatriation of Benin antiquities", said Olugbile Holloway, director-general of Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM). Despite the name, not all the statues are made of bronze. They include figurines, tusks, sculptures of Benin's rulers, and an ivory mask. They were made during between the 15th and 19th Centuries. A transfer of agreement is due to be signed on Wednesday. Mr Holloway added that he hoped this would set a good example for other countries. Benin Bronzes: 'My great-grandfather sculpted the looted treasures' Why slave descendants want the Benin Bronzes to stay in US In 2022, Germany was the first to return over 20 Benin bronzes in a bid to deal with its "dark colonial history". "With this return, we are contributing to the redress of a historical injustice that is still felt today," said Dutch Minister of Culture, Education, and Science Eppo Bruins, reports the AFP news agency. The sculptures, prized for their beauty and technical artistry, are of spiritual and historical significance for the people from that part of Nigeria. Their theft still remains a point of pain for the descendants of those from the ancient Benin kingdom. This move may increase pressure on other institutions to return the Benin Bronzes, especially the British Museum, which has over 900 artefacts. Protests and demonstrations have taken place outside the British Museum as part of a campaign for their return. However, an act of parliament prevents the British Museum from sending them back. For many in Nigeria, the Benin Bronzes are a potent reminder of the violence of colonialism. The NCMM has issued formal repatriation requests to museums across the world. Nigeria said it plans to open the Edo Museum of West African Art in Benin City in 2026, designed by the British-Ghanaian architect Sir David Adjaye, to house the largest collection of Benin Bronzes ever assembled. Ghana, Nigeria and the quest for UK looted treasure Benin Bronzes declaration 'blindsides' museum officials The art dealer, the £10m Benin Bronze and the Holocaust Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
19-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
Benin Bronzes: Netherlands to return stolen Benin statues to Nigeria
The Netherlands says it will return over 100 Benin Bronzes that British troops looted from Nigeria in the late 19th Century and which ended up in a Dutch museum. Thousands of these culturally significant sculptures and carvings were stolen during the violent destruction of Benin City, in modern-day Nigeria's Edo state, in 1897. The treasures were sold, some to private collectors and others to museums like the Wereldmuseum in The Netherlands, which has displayed these artefacts for return of the 113 artefacts is the "largest repatriation of Benin antiquities", said Olugbile Holloway, director-general of Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM). Despite the name, not all the statues are made of bronze. They include figurines, tusks, sculptures of Benin's rulers, and an ivory mask. They were made during between the 15th and 19th Centuries.A transfer of agreement is due to be signed on Wednesday. Mr Holloway added that he hoped this would set a good example for other Bronzes: 'My great-grandfather sculpted the looted treasures'Why slave descendants want the Benin Bronzes to stay in USIn 2022, Germany was the first to return over 20 Benin bronzes in a bid to deal with its "dark colonial history". "With this return, we are contributing to the redress of a historical injustice that is still felt today," said Dutch Minister of Culture, Education, and Science Eppo Bruins, reports the AFP news agency. The sculptures, prized for their beauty and technical artistry, are of spiritual and historical significance for the people from that part of Nigeria. Their theft still remains a point of pain for the descendants of those from the ancient Benin move may increase pressure on other institutions to return the Benin Bronzes, especially the British Museum, which has over 900 artefacts. Protests and demonstrations have taken place outside the British Museum as part of a campaign for their return. However, an act of parliament prevents the British Museum from sending them many in Nigeria, the Benin Bronzes are a potent reminder of the violence of colonialism. The NCMM has issued formal repatriation requests to museums across the said it plans to open the Edo Museum of West African Art in Benin City in 2026, designed by the British-Ghanaian architect Sir David Adjaye, to house the largest collection of Benin Bronzes ever assembled. More about the Benin Bronzes from the BBC: Ghana, Nigeria and the quest for UK looted treasureBenin Bronzes declaration 'blindsides' museum officialsThe art dealer, the £10m Benin Bronze and the Holocaust Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
MTV Lebanon
19-02-2025
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
Netherlands to return 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria
The Netherlands has agreed to return more than 100 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, the latest European country to return cultural artefacts to Africa, the Dutch embassy in Abuja said on Wednesday. Nigeria is on a quest to get thousands of intricate bronze sculptures and castings that were looted by British soldiers during a raid on the then-separate Kingdom of Benin, located in what is now southwestern Nigeria, in 1897. The Dutch embassy said in a statement the Netherlands would return 119 artefacts following an agreement signed between its education minister and the head of Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments. The artefacts are expected to arrive in Nigeria later this year. The collection includes 113 bronzes that are part of the Dutch State Collection while the remainder will be returned by the Municpality of Rotterdam. "The Netherlands is returning the Benin Bronzes unconditionally, recognising that the objects were looted during the British attack on Benin City in 1897, and should have never ended up in the Netherlands," the embassy statement said. The statement quoted National Commission for Museums and Monuments director general Olugbile Holloway saying this would represent the single largest return of the ancient antiquities.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Netherlands to return 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria
By Ope Adetayo ABUJA (Reuters) - The Netherlands has agreed to return more than 100 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, the latest European country to return cultural artefacts to Africa, the Dutch embassy in Abuja said on Wednesday. Nigeria is on a quest to get thousands of intricate bronze sculptures and castings that were looted by British soldiers during a raid on the then-separate Kingdom of Benin, located in what is now southwestern Nigeria, in 1897. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. The Dutch embassy said in a statement the Netherlands would return 119 artefacts following an agreement signed between its education minister and the head of Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments. The artefacts are expected to arrive in Nigeria later this year. The collection includes 113 bronzes that are part of the Dutch State Collection while the remainder will be returned by the Municpality of Rotterdam. "The Netherlands is returning the Benin Bronzes unconditionally, recognising that the objects were looted during the British attack on Benin City in 1897, and should have never ended up in the Netherlands," the embassy statement said. The statement quoted National Commission for Museums and Monuments director general Olugbile Holloway saying this would represent the single largest return of the ancient antiquities.
