The University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art has become the first US institution to repatriate its Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, per artnews.com. On July 15, a brass plaque and wooden altarpiece were formally returned to the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, in a ceremony at the Benin Palace.
The Benin Bronzes, thousands of artefacts plundered by British troops in 1897, have become a focal point in debates over cultural restitution. While many European museums still retain large collections, the Stanley Museum’s decision marks a significant shift in approach.
Lauren Lessing, the museum’s director, underscored the importance of recognising the Oba’s ownership rights, stating, “It is not my job to tell people what to do with their own possessions.” She expressed confidence in the Oba’s intention to lend these works to museums worldwide.
This repatriation follows the museum’s 2020 initiative to create a dedicated restitution research position. The move has reignited calls for other institutions, particularly the British Museum, to return their Benin Bronzes. Nigerian officials have pointed to recent controversies surrounding missing and damaged items at the British Museum as further justification for repatriation.
- Featured image::Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, holds the brass plaque returned to him during the restitution ceremony at the royal palace in Benin City/Omoregie Osakpolor/Stanley Museum of Art
