Prosper Okoye
In a historic move, the University of Cambridge has returned 116 Benin artefacts to Nigeria, restoring centuries-old cultural treasures taken during the 1897 British invasion of Benin City.
The objects, mostly brass with some ivory and wooden sculptures, were formally handed over to Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) under a management agreement with the Benin Royal Palace.
While most artefacts will be physically repatriated, a few will remain on loan at Cambridge’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (MAA) for display and research purposes.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe return follows a formal request from the NCMM in January 2022 and approval by the University Council, authorised by the UK Charity Commission.
“This is more than the return of objects; it is the restoration of the pride and dignity lost when they were taken,” said Olugbile Holloway, Director-General of NCMM. Holloway thanked the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, for supporting the process.
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Professor Nicholas Thomas, Director of MAA, said the decision “reflects a decade of dialogue with Nigerian colleagues, scholars, and the Royal Court, and aligns with growing international support for the repatriation of artefacts taken during colonial conflicts.”
The move follows similar repatriation efforts by museums across the UK, US, and Europe, signalling a broader shift toward returning cultural heritage to its countries of origin.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
