The Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, has formally received 18 Benin artefacts returned from Switzerland after spending more than 125 years outside their homeland.
He described the cultural treasures as symbols of governance, spirituality, and the artistic heritage of the Edo people, reports Channels TV.
The artefacts, which include an ancestral head of a Benin monarch, were among the objects looted during the 1897 British punitive expedition against the Benin Kingdom in present-day Edo State.
Speaking while receiving a Swiss delegation led by the Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Olugbile Holloway, at his palace in Benin City on Thursday, the monarch expressed gratitude to the Government of Switzerland; President Bola Tinubu; Governor Monday Okpebholo; the NCMM; and other stakeholders whose efforts facilitated the restitution of the priceless cultural objects.
Oba Ewuare II emphasised that the Benin Bronzes are far more than museum exhibits.
“The Benin Bronzes are not curiosities. They are records of governance, spirituality, and the artistry of the Edo people, taken by force. To delay their return is to continue dispossession by other means,” the monarch said.
The Oba disclosed that the Benin Royal Court has received more than 150 original looted Benin artefacts since his ascension to the throne.
He traced the restitution campaign to the reign of his grandfather, Oba Akenzua II, and noted that his father received the first batch of repatriated artefacts after Oba Eweka II rebuilt the Benin Royal Palace, which was destroyed during the British invasion.
The revered monarch also called on the German government to honour the 2022 agreement it voluntarily entered into with the Nigerian government for the return of over 1,000 Benin artworks. He urged Germany to conclude all outstanding logistical arrangements to facilitate their repatriation.
Oba Ewuare II equally appealed to museums and institutions across the world still holding looted Benin artefacts to address what he described as a colonial injustice against the cultural identity and values of the Benin people.
He commended former President Muhammadu Buhari and Tinubu for their commitment to Nigeria’s cultural sovereignty and support for the return of looted artefacts.
He also praised Governor Okpebholo and the Edo State House of Assembly for their advocacy in the restitution process.
In a rare display of excitement, the monarch danced around the returned artefacts and commended the NCMM and its Director-General for their dedication to securing the return of the treasures.
While speaking at the event, Holloway congratulated the Oba and reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to preserving the returned artefacts.
“I must say at this point that the Swiss authorities were extremely cooperative and transparent throughout the entire process. They did everything within their powers to ensure that this day came sooner rather than later,” Holloway said.
“Today, we have brought with us a total of 18 objects. Your Royal Majesty, as promised, we remain committed to these artefacts. The issue of ownership has long been settled, and it is our hope that the National Commission for Museums and Monuments will continue to earn the trust of Your Royal Majesty.”
Also speaking, the Consul-General of the Embassy of Switzerland in Nigeria, Conny Camenzind, expressed appreciation to the Oba of Benin and the governments of Nigeria and Switzerland for making the historic return possible, describing it as a symbol of stronger cooperation and better prospects for the future.
A director from one of the participating Swiss museums, Alice Hertzog, commended Oba Ewuare II for providing direction and support when the recovery process began in 2021.
