By Milton Tella – The High Commissioner of Nigeria to the United Kingdom, His Excellency; Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola OFR, led a delegation from Nigeria to formally receive six objects looted from Benin City, Nigeria from the Horniman Museum and Gardens in south London on Monday, 28 November 2022.
The Ambassador appreciated the efforts of the Horniman Museum for the decision to return these objects back to Nigeria.
Ambassador Isola said, “I also take this opportunity to salute the effort of Cambridge who cleared the way by returning the Cockerel early in the year and the University of Aberdeen who returned the Oba’s Head. I want to assure you that Nigeria really appreciates all these efforts.
We have no doubt in our minds that this moral suasion that you have given this occasion, really tells us that the world is still worthy of living to all of us.
Let me use this opportunity to appreciate the British press and the British people for the tenacity of purpose, in ensuring that the institutions that still hold on to these artefacts return them to where they belong.
These artefacts back in Nigeria have spiritual significance, it has historical perspective and it has attachment, so they should be returned to where they belong.
There are still some institutions here that require changes to the Acts of Parliaments, which acts as a kind of impediment for them to be returned. For those who don’t need legal engineering, I use this opportunity to call on them to return the artefacts in their procession. I appreciate the fact that the first sets of artefacts were taken from the United Kingdom back to Nigeria.
Let me assure you that Nigeria will be open to still have a lot of collaborations, because some of these artefacts have been here for centuries, we know that you have some kind of attachment to them. There will always be programmes of excursions, loans and expeditions.”
His Highness, Prince Aghatise Erediauwa led the delegation representing the Oba of Benin, His Royal Highness, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, CFR to receive the artefacts from the Horniman Museum and Gardens in London.
Prince Erediauwa said, “These artefacts that were taken away over a hundred years ago from the palace of the Oba of Benin, still retain their place today in the palace of the Oba of Benin.
In the palace we have various shrines for various purposes, just like in the Catholic Church, we have our mode of worship in Africa, we have our mode of worship in Benin.
When the British attacked Benin in 1897, they had their eyes on the artistic nature of these objects, overlooking the fact that beyond the artistic nature, they were religious objects.
Today, succeeding Obas have made spirited efforts in particular to the British government to return these spiritual objects that were taken when Benin was attacked unjustly, massacred and razed to the ground. It is still a point of pain for us. Our children grow up and are taught the history of what happened in 1897 and it is a very sore point for us.
So when we see worldwide that the narrative is now changing on ethical grounds, on moral grounds and legal grounds that objects that were stolen should be returned.
These objects belong to various shrines in the royal courts of Benin. We are here today to witness the signing over of the objects in the Horniman Museum. This is a trend now worldwide.
The Horniman Museum, the Chairman and the board of trustees must be commended. We appreciate your candour. This is the first British government funded museum to take the decision to return the objects that were taken under horrendous circumstances.
Ancient Benin Kingdom was not primitive, it was highly advanced in technology, architecture, education and administration, if the development had not been truncated, it would have been at a comparable level today with any in the world.”
The objects including two Benin Bronze plaques from the royal palace were handed over to the Nigerian officials at a ceremony marking the transfer of ownership of 72 items taken by force from the Benin Kingdom in 1897.
The Horniman’s Trustees agreed in July to transfer ownership, as the ‘moral and appropriate’ response to a request from Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM).
The six objects are:
A brass plaque depicting Oba Orhogbua (circa 1550-1578) holding a staff representing authority and power, and with Iwu, royal tattoos.
A brass plaque depicting Agban, the Ezomo (Deputy Commander in Chief of the Benin army), towards the end of the reign of Oba Orhogbua (circa 1550-1578) and the start of the reign of Oba Ehengbuda (circa 1578-1608).
A brass hip ornament depicting a face or mask
An ivory staff of office depicting a carved relief figure of an Oba
An ivory arm cuff carved with heads and abstract shapes, part of royal regalia
A carved wooden box frame, likely for holding a mirror.
Museum founder Frederick Horniman bought the ivory objects and the wooden frame from Mr. W. J. Hider, C.B.S Royal Navy, in March 1897. Hider accompanied General Rawson’s military incursion into Benin in February 1897, and was personally involved in the looting.
Richard Quick, the Horniman’s first curator, purchased the plaques and hip ornament on 4 October 1899 as part of a collection of high status Benin objects including a key from the ‘Kings House’. The seller, James Tingley, was a resident of Forest Hill, close to the Horniman. How he acquired the objects is unclear.
The six objects, selected in consultation with the NCMM as being representatives of the collection of 72 items, form the first wave of physical repatriation of Benin objects from the Horniman.
A new agreement between the NCMM and the Horniman will allow the remainder to stay in the UK on loan for now, with a second phase of physical repatriations to follow in due course.
Four of the six items returning in November were previously on display in the Horniman’s World Gallery. Their former places in the display case are now marked by their empty mounts alongside labels explaining they are to return to Nigeria.
Michael Salter-Church, Chair of the Trustees of the Horniman Museum and Gardens, said: ‘The decision of the Horniman trustees to return the objects looted from Benin Kingdom in 1897 culminates today in the signing over of ownership to Nigeria. However, it does not represent the end of the process. We hope that actually it marks the beginning of a long-term and mutually beneficial relationship between the Horniman and colleagues in Nigeria.’
Prof. Abba Tijani, Director-General of Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), said: “The National Commission for Museums and Monuments is delighted with this signing of the transfer agreement to Nigeria and looks forward to mutual collaborations with the Horniman Museum and Gardens, including loans of objects, circulation, touring exhibitions, research, etc. I call on other museums to emulate Horniman’s example.”
Kindly follow us on twitter:@AfricanVoice2
