Nigeria Welcomes Back Two Benin Bronzes from US Museum

Nigeria’s culture ministry has taken delivery of two ancient treasures—a carved bronze panel and a carved head—from the foreign affairs office. These items, taken during the British raid on the Benin Kingdom in 1897, came back from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, America.

The handover marks a key win in the country’s drive to bring home its lost artworks. The culture minister, Hannatu Musawa, thanked her foreign affairs colleague, Yusuf Tuggar, for his help in making it happen. She called the event a turning point for the nation, the ministry, and the Benin people. Musawa added that talks are ongoing with other museums holding similar pieces, and the full return process will start soon.

The head of the national museums body, Olugbile Holloway, also gave thanks to all those who worked on the recovery, including staff and Prince Aghatise Erediauwa, who spearheaded the effort. He said the moment brings back a vital slice of Nigeria’s past. Though focused on Benin, it stands for the wider fight to reclaim stolen goods, including items from Ife. Holloway noted that the small crowd did not lessen its importance.

Three senior chiefs from the Benin royal court stood in for the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Omo N’Oba N’edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare, at the quiet ceremony. Earlier, in June 2025, the Boston museum passed the items to Prince Erediauwa at Nigeria House in New York. The museum’s director, Matthew Teitelbaum, said he was glad to return the works after holding them for 12 years, calling it a joy to see them go back to their true keepers.

The Benin bronzes form a set of more than 2,000 brass and bronze carvings and figures, grabbed by British troops in 1897 and spread across global collections. In recent times, Nigeria has ramped up its outreach to get them back, striking deals with places in America, Britain, and Europe. This return follows a 2023 agreement between Nigeria and the US to hand over looted items and build stronger cultural links.

The step fits with President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” push to rebuild national pride through heritage.