Germany has ink contract that will result in the return of Benin Bronzes that were stolen from the Kingdom of Benin in the 19th century. Benin was a former British colony that is now a part of Nigeria according to Reuters.
The deal was signed on Thursday by German federal government body – Foundation of Prussian Cultural Heritage and Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments.
The artefacts, which date to the 13th century, were looted by British soldiers and are now on display in museums around Europe and the US.
A third of the treasures will remain on loan at the Berlin Humboldt Forum, but about 512 artefacts will be moved from the Ethnological Museum collection to Nigeria.
“This represents the future concerning the artefacts issue; a future of collaboration among museums, a future of according respect and dignity to the legitimate requests of other nations and traditional institutions,” said NCMM’s Abba Isa Tijani.
Ada Peter
