The German Foreign Ministry sees responsibility for the Benin bronzes after their return to Nigeria in the African country. “Who will keep the returned bronzes, which Nigerian institutions and people are involved and who is responsible for preserving them and making them accessible are questions that will be decided in Nigeria,” the Foreign Ministry in Berlin said today. “There were no strings attached to the return of the bronzes to Nigeria.”
It was previously known that the outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari had transferred the valuable bronzes to the Oba as head of the Kingdom of Benin. Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth (both Green) initially returned 20 valuable Benin bronzes at the end of 2022.
More than 1,100 of the works from the palace of the former Kingdom of Benin, which today belongs to Nigeria, have been on display in around 20 German museums. The objects, which are made of ivory and other materials in addition to bronze, come largely from British looting in 1897.
“We are in contact with the Nigerian government about the Benin bronzes and are in contact with them on all questions relating to this topic,” said the German Foreign Ministry. “The bronzes were returned to Nigeria with the aim of correcting historical injustices in the acquisition and unlawful possession of the artifacts.” will have Benin bronzes. “We continue to wish the bronzes to be exhibited.”
