The University of Aberdeen has handed over a Benin Bronze to Nigeria after over 100 years since it used to be looted by British forces.
The handover ceremony took build on Thursday in Scotland with Prince Aghatise Erediauwa, the younger brother of the recent Benin monarch; Chief Charles Uwensuyi-Edosomwan, the Obasuyi of Benin; Professor Abba Isa Tijani, Director of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments; Babatunde Adebiyi, the Correct Adviser of National Commission for Museums and Monuments; and Abdul Mohammed Gimba, Director, Museums, National Commission for Museums and Monuments demonstrate to salvage the artefact.
They were furthermore accompanied by Prince Isa Bayero, a Prince of the Kano Emirates; His Excellency, Suleiman Sani, Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria in UK; and Mrs Edith Ekunke, Retired Director of the National Museum, Lagos.
The sculpture, which depicts the head of an Oba (king), is one in every of thousands of non secular and cultural artefacts looted by British forces in 1897 all the plot via the destruction of Benin Metropolis in demonstrate-day Nigeria by a British army expedition.
It used to be later purchased by the University of Aberdeen at an public sale in 1957.
However a recent evaluate of collections incorporated learn into its provenance confirming that it used to be one in every of the so-called ‘bronzes’, got in irascible circumstances all the plot via the Benin Punitive Expedition whereby the royal palace of the Oba used to be burned and looted.
Due to this, in 2020 the University instigated a dialog via Professor Bankole Sodipo, Professor of Law in Babcock University, Nigeria, with the National Commission for Museums and Monuments of Nigeria, the Edo Order Authorities and the Royal Court docket of the Oba, referring to its return.
A proper ask for repatriation by the Nigerian Federal Authorities and supported by the diversified parties used to be then proposed and in March 2021 it used to be unanimously accredited by the University Court docket following discussion by an professional panel, which incorporated representatives of the University, the Director of the Hunterian Museum in the University of Glasgow and Professor Sodipo representing the Nigerian partners.
Read Also: [VIDEO] Benin Bronze ‘Okukor’ Returned To Nigeria After Over 100 Years
Reacting to the pass, his Royal Majesty, Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare (II) said: “we thank the University of Aberdeen for this noble act of returning our bronze work. We hope that diversified institutions worldwide will gaze the injustice after they bid on conserving on to objects which undoubtedly might possibly well well maybe easy be a reminder to them of the excellent injustice that used to be inflicted on a of us up to now away and see you later previously”.
The system of a lawful transfer then began with the University working to improve the timescales known by the Nigerian partners for its physical return.
His Royal Majesty, Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, said: “much has been said referring to the importance of heritage art work and, in spite of the occasional attempts in some quarters to downplay their cultural and non secular relevance, these works are on the whole imbued with the spirit of the of us from whom they were taken.
“Despite the resistance in some quarters, the return of stolen art work is the upright thing to attain. Some bid that they got their safe collections. Right here’s like pronouncing, effectively, I know this merchandise used to be first and main stolen but because I bought it someplace, then I’m ample. That notion is fully cross and wretched.
“In any match, we thank the University of Aberdeen for this noble act of returning our bronze work. We hope that diversified institutions worldwide will gaze the injustice after they bid on conserving on to objects which undoubtedly might possibly well well maybe easy be a reminder to them of the excellent injustice that used to be inflicted on a of us up to now away and see you later previously”.
Professor Abba Isa Tijani, Director-Standard of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, said: “We on the National Commission for Museums and Monuments of Nigeria undoubtedly esteem the initiative of the University of Aberdeen to release the Benin Bronze head of their series.
“The University commenced this pass with out being instigated. Right here’s unprecedented. On its volition, the University felt it ought to attain to Nigeria the most critical cultural object it obtained some decades previously via what can pass in the UK as lawful acquisition. I have to esteem Professor Bankole Sodipo who linked up with Legal reliable Babatunde Adebiyi of the Commission to be traipse that that that an avenue for discussion used to be created.
“The synergy used to be an added impetus to the initiative of the University of Aberdeen. Nowadays, we are witnessing the success account. The Commission intends to cement its relationship with the University of Aberdeen and furthermore work with the University in fashioning mutual agreements with diversified universities and institutions in the realm referring to Nigerian artefacts of their holdings.
“We earnestly request with out any doubt that diversified individuals and institutions will attain out to us for talks on the model forward pertaining to Nigerian artefacts of their possession. The Aberdeen return might possibly well well maybe easy inspire all to a mode forward for friendly returns.”
The Minister of Records and Culture of Nigeria, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said: “Nigeria warmly welcomes the return of the Benin Bronze Head by the University of Aberdeen and over yet again calls on all individuals, organizations and international locations in possession of Nigerian artefacts to voluntarily return them to where they belong – Nigeria.”
Professor George Boyne, Foremost and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen, said: “Over the last 40 years the Benin Bronzes believe turn out to be indispensable symbols of injustice.
“It would now not were upright to believe retained an merchandise of such mighty cultural significance that used to be got in such reprehensible circumstances.
“The University took a proactive methodology to title the correct of us to deliver about what to attain and we are extremely grateful for the collective methodology taken by the partners in Nigeria, which has facilitated this return.
“We are satisfied to welcome our guests representing the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Kingdom of Benin, and the National Commission for Museums and Monuments and commend their spirit of co-operation in making this attainable.”
The partners believe committed to the safe-conserving of the Bronze ‘in this sort of trend and in factual essence of its sovereignty’, unless it will possibly well maybe even be placed on public visual display unit on the Oba’s palace or diversified agreed build.
This comes a day after the Jesus College, University of Cambridge returned a Benin Bronze – the Okukor statue to Nigeria.
Jesus College, University of Cambridge became the first establishment on the earth to attain a Benin Bronze.
It used to be looted right now from the Court docket of Benin, as segment of the punitive British expedition of 1897 and used to be given to the College in 1905 by the daddy of a student.
