Photo Credit: Michel Wal/ The Art Newspaper
Several artifacts were plundered from Nigeria by the British during the colonial rule, and the government has said they want them back.
According to The Art Newspaper, a group of European museums and Nigerian parties are pushing for a return of the artifacts to their home country.
The group, known as the Benin Dialogue Group, comprises of nine museums across London, Cambridge, Oxford, Berlin, Dresden, Hamburg, Vienna and Stockholm. It also includes a consortium of 4 Dutch ethnographic museums.
It has been reported that a royal museum will be built in Benin, Edo State, and while it isn’t certain if the loan will be made, the construction is seen as the first step.
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, said the state is open to bringing the artifacts back home. He said:
Whatever terms we can agree to have them back so that we can relate to our experience, relate to these works that are at the essence of who we are, we would be open to such conversations.
In some cases it could be a permanent loan and in some cases it (could) just be for temporary display. In other cases it could be a return of works.
The decision to establish a world-class museum will encourage curators across Europe to be confident to support the safe return.
Photo Credit: Michel Wal/ The Art Newspaper
Wait, what???? Loan us back OUR own treasures? Chai we have suffered
Are you freaking kidding me!
Yes oh loan us what you stole from us rubbish just negodu
lol…Loan us what was ours in the first place.
This is so Upsetting! What is a temporary loan, when these items were stolen in the first place.
Na so!
I was about to get mad and rake
How dare Britain!!
The audacity!!!
The impetus! !
This WHITE deVils
RACISMMMMMMM
Then I realised This Is Nigeria and the idols – sorry artifacts are better off in Britain anyway.
If it is not stolen again and sold in the black market..
Nigerian pastors and there sheeps will see at as idols to be destroyed.
Some will consider it demonic and the reason for their predicaments.
One way or the other Tribalism will enter.
If you are not from benin keep off
las las it will be abandoned where it will waste away and detoriate that will make all lovers of Art to cry.
Abeg , let them keep it ..Nigeria is not yet mentally equipped for it.
The only deal that will favour everyone is that any Nigerian that wants to see it in Britain. .should do it free of charge.
AND here I am even thinking why did Briatain bother to gave us independence in the firstvplace…
What have we achieved with it.
The backward north just replaced Britain as our colonial masters.
So what is the point of independence .
Abeg, make I go sleep
Love ir! A very Nigerian way of operating. I will steal from you, then play victim and ask you to compensate me for my theft.
Those are not just artifact, some of them are ritualistic items infact totems! they are the wands that causes certain things to happen when the right words are spoken by the right people in the right place, In addition we have an Oba with the right name an Ogidigan just leave the rest… so I say how dare Britain! leasing what they stole back to us, it should be resisted completely… But let the artifact stay where it is for now don’t bring it to the “right place” yet….
What did I just read? Modaf—as
*sigh* Once we agree to a loan we dont have any legal leg to stand on in future to get it back. By accepting a loan we are agreeing that the artifacts are owned by the british and we are borrowing it.
We’d be better off leaving it there until/if ever Nigeria is strong enough of a global power to gently “encourage” them to return what was stolen