The Benin Bronzes and the repatriation of the artefacts have been a big topic for international relations for much of the 2020s and even before the turn of the decade. Countries once the subjects of colonialism and opportunistic looting have been requesting that museums around the world return artefacts to their countries of origin. At the centre of much of this, due to the prominence of the British Empire, is the British Museum.

The British Museum houses a tremendous hall for Nigeria of some of the most prized artefacts about the legendary Kingdom of Benin. The British Museum is technically hamstrung by a UK law originally designed as a form of safekeeping against members using artefacts for political or diplomatic gain. Thus protecting the artefacts and keeping them available to the public.

The obvious counter nowadays, of course, is that they’re not Britain’s to protect. In recent years, there’s been a sudden escalation of the Benin Bronzes returning to Nigeria. The hope is that the Benin Bronzes, particularly the most famous pieces, will continue to find a way back home.

Importance of the Bronzes

There is a case to be made for preserving the Benin Bronzes to date, and without such well-supported institutions, some of the artefacts may not be available or, at least, anywhere near as well preserved today as they are.

Still, the Benin Bronzes are of massive cultural and historical significance to Nigeria and West Africa. Chief among the scattered pieces is the Ivory Masks. The British Museum is one of the five known to be in existence. 

Masks are among the most iconic aspects of ancient West African civilisations. Many are known to have either worn masks on their heads or their belts. For the Benin Empire, a set of ivory masks depicted the Queen Mother, Idia, who served as the advisor to ruler Esigie in the early 16th century.

These masks offer us a lot of the iconography of the ancient civilisations as they’re so detailed and well-known. So, when other areas of art and even entertainment seek to draw from the depiction of ancient Africa, they often turn to the masks. This is even true of online casinos. Here, 9 Masks of Fire and its many spin-offs – owing to its popularity – feature distinctly West African masks as central to the theme and features.

Open communications and possible roadblocks

The British Museum proudly details its open communications with its partners in Nigeria about the repatriation of the Benin Bronzes, which commenced officially in 2021. Of course, the British Museum is just one of over 100 institutions housing Benin Bronzes, but it’s certainly the most prominent entity in the news. Given its collection’s scale and popularity, it makes sense that it’s the focus of public talks.

What may be an issue, however, is where the Bronzes will go. The British Museum does explain that the right moves have been made in Nigerian law that make passing over the artefacts much more likely, but when Germany returned 21 Benin Bronzes, a sticking point arose.

As reported in August 2023 by DW, there was a fear that the artefacts would be privatised by the outgoing president, Muhammadu Buhari, potentially gifting them to the head of the former royal family of the Benin Empire, Oda Ewuare II. The British Museum would certainly seek to safeguard against them being kept from the public in any deal.

Still, progress is being made, especially after Germany and the Horniman of London returned nearly 100 artefacts between them in recent years. The British Museum is famously cautious and slow-moving, but it appears to be moving in the right direction.