Benin Bronzes to be repatriated by Church of England are from 1980s
The sculptures Lambeth Palace is returning as a gesture of goodwill were made 100 years after most Benin Bronzes were seized
The pair of female figures are likely from the 1980 s
“Benin Bronzes” due to be repatriated by the Church of England were made in the 1980s, officials have stated.
Sculptures and plaques made for royalty in the former Kingdom of Benin and largely seized by British forces in 1897 have been the subject of renewed calls for repatriation to Nigeria following Black Lives Matter protests.
The Church of England owns two statues which were gifted to Archbishop Robert Runcie by politician Prof Ambrose F. Alli and the University of Nigeria during an Easter visit to the country in 1982.
Church of England to return Benin Bronzes gifted to Archbishop in 1982
The Church owns two statues given to Archbishop Robert Runcie during an Easter visit to Nigeria
The two statues will be returned to Nigeria
The Church of England will repatriate Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, despite the artworks being gifted to a former Archbishop of Canterbury during a tour of the country just 40 years ago.
Following Black Lives Matter protests there have been renewed calls to return the sculptures created for royalty in the Kingdom of Benin, present-day Nigeria, most of which were seized British forces in 1897.
The Church owns two statues given to Archbishop Robert Runcie during an Easter visit to Nigeria in 1982 by the University of Nigeria, and by political leader Prof Ambrose F. Alli on behalf of the nation s modern-day Benin region.