Colonialism and looted treasures from Nigeria
The Punch
Published 18 May 2021
You may recall in your African History class about how the British came and conquered the Dark African continent. I still remember my reading of the masterpiece on Africa by Walter Rodney, How Europe underdeveloped Africa. For me, it is a vivid reminder of the Europeans’ exploitation of and the atrocities committed in the African countries including Nigeria and stealing of its natural, economic and cultural resources during the colonial era.
For example, in the cultural sphere in Nigeria, the British colonial government made and provided a conducive environment for its citizens to rob and steal many rare ancient artworks and sculptures from Nigeria in the 1600s. It was no secret that the British colonial government directly or indirectly aided and abetted the looted treasures, many of which are found in many museums in Great Britain, Germany and the United States.