The University of Cambridge has formally transferred legal ownership of 116 Benin artefacts to Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), per theartnewspaper.com. The move marks a major milestone in the global effort to repatriate cultural heritage looted during the colonial era.
The collection, housed at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (MAA), includes brass castings, ivory carvings and wooden sculptures seized by British forces during the 1897 sacking of Benin City. While legal title has been signed over, the university confirmed that around 100 items will be physically repatriated shortly, while 16 pieces will remain in Cambridge on long-term loan for research and display.
The return process, initially supported by the university in 2022, faced delays following a 2023 decree by Nigeria’s former president, Muhammadu Buhari. The decree transferred ownership of returned artefacts to Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin, leading to uncertainty among Western institutions regarding legal frameworks for restitution.
To resolve this, a historic management agreement was signed between the NCMM and the Royal Palace of Benin. This accord allows the NCMM to manage the storage and exhibition of the bronzes on the Oba’s behalf. Nicholas Thomas, Director of the MAA, noted: “We paused as a clearer framework was needed. In July last year, the university council confirmed the transfer should proceed. The bronzes should go back within months.”
Plans for the physical return are now moving forward as Nigeria develops new facilities to house the treasures. The Oba Ovonramwen Facility, a secure storage and display site, was recently completed in Benin City and the National Museum, Lagos is also currently being renovated with private funding to serve as a primary venue for returned works.
Then there is the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City, which remains a potential future site, though its opening was recently delayed by local protests.
Cambridge’s decision intensifies the spotlight on the British Museum, which holds the world’s largest collection of Benin Bronzes – roughly 900 pieces. Unlike university galleries, the British Museum is currently barred by the British Museum Act 1963 from permanently removing items from its collection, a legal hurdle that remains a central point of contention in international restitution debates.
•Featured image courtesy University of Cambridge
