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A dispute between Nigerian leaders could jeopardise plans for the return of some of Africa’s most famous artefacts, the Benin Bronzes, which were looted during the colonial era and are now mainly in Western museums, as BBC’s Barnaby Phillips reports.
The Bronzes, thousands of metal sculptures and ivory carvings, were seized from the West African kingdom of Benin – in what is today Edo State in southern Nigeria – by a British military force in 1897.
In Europe their beauty and sophistication caused an instant sensation, and they are widely regarded as amongst Africa’s greatest artworks.
In recent years, as European governments have come under pressure to atone for colonial-era crimes, some have spoken of their desire to return looted artefacts.
BBC News
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A dispute between Nigerian leaders could jeopardise plans for the return of some of Africa s most famous artefacts, the Benin Bronzes, which were looted during the colonial era and are now mainly in Western museums, as writer Barnaby Phillips reports.
The Bronzes, thousands of metal sculptures and ivory carvings, were seized from the West African kingdom of Benin - in what is today Edo State in southern Nigeria - by a British military force in 1897.
In Europe their beauty and sophistication caused an instant sensation, and they are widely regarded as amongst Africa s greatest artworks.
The Met ought to have returned two stolen Benin Bronzes years ago apollo-magazine.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from apollo-magazine.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Met Museum Announces Return of Two Benin Bronzes to Nigeria
The museum, which has some 160 items from Benin City, becomes the latest institution to announce the restitution of some of the priceless artifacts.
“Warrior Chief,” a 16th-century brass plaque, is one of the objects that the Met Museum will return to Nigeria.Credit.Metropolitan Museum of Art
June 9, 2021, 6:52 p.m. ET
The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced on Wednesday that it planned to return two brass plaques from its collection, part of the group of West African artifacts known as the Benin Bronzes, to Nigeria, making it the latest institution to pursue repatriation of the looted works.