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By Jayne Augoye
Some of the looted bronzes of the Beninese empire by British soldiers over 100 years old will be returned to Nigeria, but under certain conditions, CNN reports the situation.
According to CNN, the Dialogue Group on Benin, composed of representatives of several European museums, the Royal Court of Benin, the Government of Edo State and the National Commission of Museums and Monuments of Nigeria, reached an agreement in October on the creation of some of the most iconic pieces. returned to Nigeria.
The British Museum has agreed to "lend" the plates to the Benin Royal Museum, in the state of Edo, for an exhibition within three years.
More than 1,000 of these bronzes are kept in museums across Europe, the most valuable collection being found at the British Museum in London.
Nigerian governments have demanded their return since the country's independence in 1960.
The restitution of the artefacts is conditional upon the completion of the Royal Benin Museum, whose drawings, according to the spokesman of Governor Godwin Obaseki, Crusoe Osagie, are being finalized.
"We are grateful that these steps have been taken, but we hope that these are only the first steps – if you have stolen property, you must return it." Said Osagie.
Mr Osagie also called for further pressure on European governments for them to return looted items from the colonial era.
According to CNN, a spokesman for the British Museum said: "The key point of the agenda (at the October meeting) was: how can partners work together to create a museum in Benin City with a rotation of Beninese art works from a consortium museums.
"The museums present have all agreed to lend artifacts to the Royal Museum of Benin, to give advice on the design of buildings and exhibitions, and to cooperate with Nigerian partners in the development of a training program, Funding and legal framework for posting in a planned new museum. "
There are no details on which parts to return at the moment.
At the same time, France is also expected to restore 26 artefacts to Benin, on the orders of French President Emmanuel Macron.
This is according to a report from artnet.com an art market website, released Monday.
The site indicates that the move is based on a proposal from the musée du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac and the French Ministry of Culture.
The artifacts in question, which include three statues of the kings of Abomey, thrones and ornamental gates, as well as a statue of the god Gou, were looted during the bloody siege of General Dodd on the Behanzin Palace in 1892.
In Benin, they will be shared with the public as part of an ambitious new museum project.
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