Museums in Germany holding 1, 130 artefacts looted from Benin, capital of Edo State in the 19th century, are cooperating with the governments in a bid to return them to Nigeria.
German Minister of State for Culture, Prof. Monica Grutters,said Museums in Germany that were holding Benin Bronzes had agreed to cooperate and 1,130 artefacts would be returned to Nigeria from the beginning of 2022.
“The way we deal with the issue of Benin Bronzes is important to
addressing our colonial past”, she said, describing the issue as “an important personal concern”.
The Federal Government had demanded an unconditional return of 1,130 Benin Bronzes that were looted in the 19th century from Nigeria and now in German museums.
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made the request in Berlin, Germany, at separate meetings with the German Minister of State for Culture, Prof. Monika Grutters, and the German Foreign Minister, Mr. Heiko Maas.
Segun Adeyemi, the Special Assistant to the President (Media) Office of the minister, said in a statement on Thursday, that Mohammed, who led a Nigerian delegation to the talks, was reacting to comments by Grutters that Germany was ready to make ‘substantial return’ of the 1,130 looted artefacts.
He stressed that return of the looted artefacts should be whole rather than substantial.
The minister also said that the issue of provenance, which had to do with the place of origin of the artefacts, should not be allowed to unduly delay the repatriation of the art works.
“The fact that the looted artefacts are known as Benin Bronzes is already a confirmation of their source of origin (which is Benin)”, Mohammed emphasized.
While meeting with the German Foreign Minister, Mohammed said there should be ”absolutely no conditions attached” to the return of the artefacts, which he described as “an ideal whose time has come”.
He said there was the need for the parties to commit to definite timelines for the return of the Bronzes and conclude all negotiations in a very short term.
Mohammed added that ongoing discussion between Nigeria and Germany on the return of the art works was not just the end of an era but the
beginning of a new vista of stronger relations, pivoted by cultural diplomacy between both countries.
“We see Germany as a leader in the efforts to take practical steps to repatriate our stolen artefacts, and we hope Germany will sustain that lead,” he said.
The minister thanked the Government of Germany for taking the lead in the global efforts to repatriate all artefacts that were looted from Nigeria and indeed from the African continent.
Edo Governor, Godwin Obaseki, also on the delegation, said a “transformational” museum is under construction in Benin City to house the artefacts upon their return.
He said the museum was part of a new cultural district in the city.
The governor said he was attending the talks to demonstrate the strong partnership involving the Federal Government of Nigeria, the (Benin) royal family and the people of Edo State.
Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Mr. Yusuf Tuggar, said the issue of the repatriation of the Benin Bronzes should be seen as an opportunity to take the cooperation between Nigeria and Germany to a greater height.
“This is an opportunity that must not be missed. Minor issues should
not delay the repatriation,” he said, and commended the Government of Germany for taking the lead in the repatriation process.
