They Did Us Proud. The Horniman Museum Returns Benin Bronzes
Two years ago, two Benin men in London started a journey that has culminated in one of the greatest repatriation events in the history of Benin artefacts. At a ceremony held at the Horniman Museum London on the evening of Monday 28 November 2022, contracts were signed and ownership of 72 artefacts passed from the United Kingdom to Nigeria.
It is on record that over 2000 artefacts were looted by British forces from the Oba of Benin’s Palace during a punitive expedition in 1897. After 125 years, two Benin men, Mr Ehiobuogbe Edwin Igue and Mr Pius Osewengie Iyen, have ensured that some of those looted Bronzes are being returned to The Oba’s Palace.
In the 125 years since the looting, the Benin artefacts have been distributed and sold to personal art collectors and institutions around the world. The Benin Bronzes are of a superior quality to anything the world had seen at the time so it is no surprise that they have ended up in the best museums in the World; the British Museum, the Smithsonian Institute, Cambridge College, University of Aberdeen, the Horniman Museum, and others. The Bronzes in museums and private collections are still in magnificent condition. Their beauty and quality draw visitors who queue to see them. The history of the Benin Bronzes is also included in school curriculums across England, Europe & America due to the international reputation and prestige associated with them.
Since the looting in 1897 the Benin people have been left with nothing. The Bronzes were their spirituality and history, and they had been forcefully ripped away from them. Recently Benin People worldwide have started clamouring for the return of these Bronzes and have been approaching any western institution in possession of these Bronzes to do the right thing and return them.
It so happened, that Mr Pius Osewengie Iyen started a job at the Horniman Museum in London. On noticing that they had Benin Bronzes on display, he approached his employers for a discussion. The Horminan Museum behaved well towards him from the start but there was a lot of work to be done. Proving who owned these Bronzes and then the consultations for their return was a very big process. Pius Iyen contacted Mr Ehiobuogbe Edwin Igue and asked him to be involved. Both these men attended all consultations with all bodies, students and local authorities. They made their case and defended all the counter arguments and told the Museum that these are “BENIN” Bronzes and they need to be returned so that our people can know themselves again.
Mr Ehibuogbe Edwin Igue said the Horniman Museum behaved in an exemplary manner through the whole process. Even when the Chairman of the British museum stated The British Museum Act of 1969 prevents the return of artefacts the Horniman Museum was not deflected and pressed on with the transfer of ownership, to ensure that the Benin people get what is rightfully theirs. In October 2022 Mr Edwin Igue was invited to the Oba’s Palace Benin where he informed the Oba of the historic agreement that he had reached with the Horniman Musuem for the return of their Benin Bronzes.
At the ceremony on 28 November 2022 at the Horniman Musuem London 72 Benin artefacts owned by the Horniman Musuem were returned to The Benin People. Six of the artefacts were displayed before the podium and these were for immediate repatriation to the Oba’s Palace. The remaining 64 artefacts will stay at the Horniman for another year until their new home has been built in Edo State.
At the signing were delegates from His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare II. The delegates sent to receive the Bronzes were, Prince Aghatise, Chief Edosomwan (SAN), the Obasuyi of Benin, Chief Billy Adesuwa Osawaru, The Obazunhumwunwa of Benin and Chief Nosakhare, The Ebagua of Benin.
In his speech at the ceremony, Prince Aghatise Erediauwa thanked the Horniman Museum for their bold action. He also stated that all the Benin Bronzes in ownership outside of Benin remain stolen, no matter how they had been acquired.
Other notable guest who attended the ceremony were the Edo State Governor Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki , the head of Nigeria’s National Commission for Museum and Monuments, Prof Abba Tijani and the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola. The UK Benin Community was represented by Pastor Monday Ibude and Mr Osaretin Ajayi.
The Edo Community worldwide would like to specially thank Mr Ehiobuogbe Edwin Igue and Mr Pius
Osewengie Iyen for all their efforts. We are very proud of you.
A special thanks to Horniman Museum team, Mr Michael Salter-Church (Chair of the Horniman Museum Trustees), Dr Nick Merriman (CEO of the Horniman Museum and Gardens) and Ms Johanna Zetterstrom-Sharp. Thank you for ensuring that the right thing has been done for the Benin Kingdom and the people of Edo State. The Horniman Museum is the first museum in Britain to return the artefacts in their possession to Benin. They have also won the Art Fund Museum of the Year 2022 prize for the way they have worked with and empowered the community. We thank you.
Obaghtorkpere Ise.
The Editor
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