Deutch meseum has agreed to return looted Benin bronzes to Nigeria

The Wereld museum in Leiden, Netherlands has agreed to return at least 113 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria.

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The said bronzes were said to have been looted from Benin Kingdom now in Edo state, Nigeria over 120 years ago, as part of a broader movement to restitute colonial-era artifacts.

The bronzes were originally stolen during a violent British expedition in 1897 and some European countries, including Germany and the Netherlands, are returning them.

The Dutch museum has previously restored artifacts to Indonesia, Mexico, and the U.S. and hopes this latest effort will inspire more institutions to follow suit.

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Some bronzes will remain in Leiden on loan, while the rest will be shipped to Lagos, with plans for a dedicated museum in Benin City, Edo state so the children of Benin can see the ingenuity of their ancestors.

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