Edos in the UK will get together on 6 July 2024 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the first return of Benin Bronzes by Chief Steve Dunstone and Prof. Mark Walker directly to Oba Erediauwa CFR at the Oba’s Palace on 20 June 2014.
Chief Steve Dunstone and professor Mark Walker from Oxford, whose great grandfather Herbert Sutherland Walker was one of the 500 special forces who raided Benin in 1897. Mark Walker inherited two Benin Bronzes when his mother passed on in 2013. Mark Walker never met his grand father Captain Herbert Sutherland Walker who died in 1932, 15 years before his grandson was born.
Walker was prompted to return the statues when he read his grandfather’s diary, which described the works as “loot.” Mark’s children did not want to inherit the Bronzes. Mark did not want them to be sold in an auction after he has passed. He came across richardlander.org.uk, an organisation run by Chief Steve Dunstone that campaigns for the Benin Bronzes to be returned to the royal palace in Benin.
Chief Dunstone convinced Mark Walker that the symbolic gesture of returning these items to the Oba of Benin could reverberate around the world and could have a positive effect in helping other institutions to return theirs
Together with Chief Dunstone they went on an interview in Ben TV about the bronzes and what they would like to do with them. Dr Charles Omorodion contacted them after the interview and booked a meeting with the Edo Community UK to see the Bronzes. The president of Nigeria, Jonathan Goodluck, wanted the Bronzes back in Abuja and he advised they should be returned via the Nigerian Embassy UK. But Chief Dunstone and Mark Walker refused this request and stated that they would only return the bronzes to the Oba of Benin.
They were assisted by the Odionwere Council of the United Kingdom & Ireland (Dr David Obaze, Dr Taiwo Idemudia), and The Benin Community in the UK (Dr Dr Charles Omorodion, Pastor Monday Ibude, Mr Edwin Igue & Mr Stephen Obariase (RIP)) to ensure Chief Steve Dunstone & Mark Walker were able to travel to Nigeria to hand the bronzes back to the present Oba.
On 20 June 2014, they were able to achieve their mission when Mark Walker and Chief Steve Dunstone met Oba Erediauwa at the Oba’s Palace, Benin City. Oba Erediauwa is the great-grandson of Oba Ovonramwen-the King deposed by Herbert and his colleagues in 1897. The British seized more than 2,000 artworks and religious artefacts, most of them hundreds of years old, which were sent back to England.
Mark Walker said, he is happy they are now back in Benin City. “These objects are part of the cultural heritage of another people… to the people of Benin City, these objects are priceless.”
Chief Steve Dunstone has written a book entitled” The One with the Key”, which has 20 pages dedicated to the Benin Bronzes and which is available on Amazon.
To celebrate 10 years of the first return of bronzes, the book will be launched in the Edo Community UK on 06 July 2024. As well as the book launch, prominent Edo people in the UK Diaspora who have continued to impact the Edo community in the UK will be recognised. This event is organised by Edo Connect & Prince Ekpen Erediauwa. Mother of day is Princess Theresa Erediauwa.
Please join us on 6th July 2024 to celebrate and recognise.
- Chief Steve Dunstone- Services to the Edo Community Worldwide
- Edo Development Aid UK- Services to Edo elderly in the UK, Edo disabled persons in Edo State & EDA Community Lottery UK.
- Pastor Friday Igbineweka- Services to Edo Community United Kingdom
- 24 Bits: Services to Benin women in the United Kingdom
- Destiny Ebhodaghe: Services to Esan Community in the United Kingdom
- Afenmai UK Community Outstanding Person of the Year
- Tribute to Oba Erediauwa CFR, 1923-2016.
Tickets for event will be available from 28 May 2024.
Do contact me with any queries on the above
Kind Regards
Lace Iyamu
Edo Connect
info@edoconnect.com