The National Museum in Onikan, Lagos, played host on Saturday, to a landmark signing ceremony marking the official return of 119 Benin Bronzes from the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Nigeria. The event signified the largest physical repatriation of cultural property in the nation’s history and a milestone in the global restitution movement.

The ceremony began with the Nigerian national anthem, setting a solemn and dignified tone. This was followed by keynote speeches that underscored the symbolic and spiritual weight of the returned artefacts. Among the speakers were Olugbile Holloway, Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM); Marieke Van Bommel, General Director of the Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen; Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa; and Princess Ikuoyemwen Ewuare-Aimiuwu, eldest daughter of the Oba of Benin, who delivered the monarch’s message.

In his address, Holloway reminded the audience of the brutality of the 1897 British punitive expedition that led to the looting of the Benin Kingdom. “Lives were lost. Brave men and women gave their lives to protect not just objects, but their heritage,” he said, calling for a moment of silence to honour the fallen.

He noted that the resistance against British forces extended two years beyond the 1897 invasion and that the effort to recover the bronzes spans generations—from Oba Akenzua II in the 1930s to today. Holloway praised the Netherlands for setting “a beautiful example” by returning the artefacts unconditionally and expressed hope that other nations would follow suit.

“These are not just artefacts. They are embodiments of the spirit, pride, and dignity of the Benin people,” Holloway stated. “You’re not just restoring something that was stolen, you’re restoring the pride and dignity of the people they were taken from in the first place.”

Minister Hannatu Musawa framed the event as a direct fulfillment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cultural vision. “From the very beginning, President Tinubu said, ‘If nothing else, bring back all the artefacts that belong to Nigeria.’ This was his mission,” Musawa declared.

She emphasised that the bronzes, which she described as “living embodiments of the soul and spirit of the Benin Kingdom,” represent not just historical items but a reclamation of Nigeria’s dignity and cultural identity.

Representing the Oba of Benin, Princess Ikuoyemwen Ewuare-Aimiuwu delivered a powerful speech on behalf of her father, His Royal Majesty Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Ewuare II, CFR. She offered gratitude to the Nigerian government, the Netherlands, the NCMM, and individuals who championed the return.

She reiterated that the bronzes rightfully belong in the Oba’s palace, as affirmed by a 2023 Federal Government gazette that declared the Oba of Benin the legal and spiritual custodian of the artefacts.

She also singled out media mogul Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Chairman of ARISE TV and ThisDay, for his support in protecting the artefacts from the threat of relooting, calling him “an industrious son of Edo land” and a key figure in the fight for cultural justice.

Dutch delegates, including Michel Deelen, the Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Lagos, and Marieke Van Bommel, also reaffirmed their nation’s commitment to cultural restitution and transparency. Their presence, alongside representatives from both the Benin and Lagos royal palaces, signified a bridge of understanding and cooperation across nations.

Four of the returned bronzes were on display during the ceremony, giving attendees a rare and emotional encounter with the craftsmanship and legacy of their ancestors. They are to remain at the National Museum, while the others have been taken to storage under the guidance and blessing of the Oba of Benin, pending their placement in the forthcoming Benin Royal Museum.

While the event marked a celebratory milestone, all speakers agreed that the journey is far from over. Nigeria’s fight to retrieve looted heritage continues—with more than a thousand bronzes still in foreign collections. The Director-General of NCMM confirmed that discussions are underway with Germany and other countries for further restitutions.

The ceremony ended not only with documents signed and artefacts returned but with a sense of collective purpose: a nation reclaiming its history, restoring its dignity, and reasserting its place on the global cultural stage.

As the Oba of Benin’s daughter concluded, “All glory be to God Almighty, the great architect of the universe.”

Melissa Enoch

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