BENIN CITY: The Netherlands has returned a historical Benin artefact to the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, 129 years after British forces invaded the Benin Kingdom in 1897 and looted numerous cultural treasures.
The artefact was formally presented at the Oba’s Palace in Benin City, Edo State, on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, as part of activities marking the monarch’s 10th coronation anniversary.
The presentation was made by the Consul General of the Netherlands, Frank Keurnorst, alongside Beatrice van Bormann, Executive Director of Museum De Fundatie in the Netherlands.
Chief Lucky Imasue, chairman of the 10th Coronation Anniversary Committee and a former Deputy Governor of Edo State, said the Netherlands had initiated the return of artefacts taken from the kingdom during the 1897 invasion.
Imasue described the restitution as a significant milestone in efforts to recover Benin’s cultural heritage, stressing that the artefacts belonged to the Oba of Benin, irrespective of their number.
He expressed optimism that more historical objects would be returned as efforts to reclaim the kingdom’s looted treasures continue.
According to him, the artefacts preserved important records of the history, royal traditions and way of life of the Benin Kingdom before the invasion. He noted that the objects documented the majesty of the Oba and the kingdom’s rich cultural heritage.
Imasue explained that successive Obas had pursued the recovery of the artefacts, but the campaign gained momentum under Oba Ewuare II, whose diplomatic experience as a former Nigerian ambassador helped strengthen efforts to secure their return.
He also stated that the Federal Government, through the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, recognises that the artefacts were taken from the Oba’s Palace and should be returned to their rightful home.
The committee chairman thanked the Dutch government and people for returning the artefact and choosing the monarch’s coronation anniversary as the occasion for its presentation.
In his anniversary address, Oba Ewuare II commended the Netherlands for returning the historical object after more than a century. He also expressed appreciation to the Dutch consul general and the Portuguese Ambassador to Nigeria, Paulo Santos, who attended the ceremony.
The monarch disclosed plans to strengthen cultural and historical relations between the Benin Kingdom and Portugal, recalling the longstanding connections between the two societies.
He cited the Holy Aruosa Church in Benin as an example of the historical interaction between traditional Benin religious practices and Catholic influences introduced during earlier contacts with Europeans.
According to the Oba, his ancestors explored the possibility of embracing Catholicism while maintaining their traditional beliefs, resulting in religious practices and regalia that reflected elements of Catholic influence.
The Benin kingdom maintains its traditional spiritual portals of communication with Almighty God,” he said.
Oba Ewuare II also recalled his experience as Nigeria’s ambassador in Rome, where he learnt about efforts by the Vatican to recognise African traditional religions.
The monarch praised Van Bormann for her commitment to the assignment and for helping achieve the return of the artefact.
The restitution represents another step in the international campaign to recover cultural objects taken from African kingdoms during the colonial era, particularly the thousands of artefacts looted from Benin City during the British invasion of 1897.
The return is also expected to reinforce ongoing discussions about the preservation, ownership and repatriation of Africa’s cultural heritage.
