How the Benin Artifacts Were Stolen and Why They’re Finally Being Returned

BENIN CITY: The Benin Bronzes intricately crafted sculptures, plaques, and ceremonial objects were created by the ancient Kingdom of Benin, in present-day Edo State, Nigeria.

These artworks, made of bronze, brass, and ivory, were not just decorative; they held deep cultural, historical, and spiritual meaning. They told the story of Benin’s kings (Obas), honored ancestors, and were used in royal rituals.

In 1897, everything changed. During the colonial-era Scramble for Africa, the British Empire was expanding its control over West Africa. The British wanted to dominate trade in the Benin region, but the Oba of Benin resisted.

In January 1897, a British delegation ignored a warning not to enter Benin during a sacred festival.

As tensions peaked, the delegation was ambushed by Benin warriors, and several British officials and African porters were killed.

In retaliation, the British launched a full-scale military invasion of Benin City the following month. The attack destroyed the royal palace, and British troops looted thousands of priceless artworks now known as the Benin Bronzes.

These treasures were shipped to Europe and sold to fund the expedition. Some were donated to the British Museum, while others were acquired by museums and collectors across the UK, Germany, France, the U.S., and other countries.

For over a century, these stolen artifacts remained in foreign hands, despite calls from Nigeria and the Benin Royal Court for their return. The world largely ignored these demands until recently.

In the 2010s, global awareness began to grow about the injustices of colonialism, especially regarding looted cultural heritage. High profile campaigns, academic reports, and media attention pushed museums to re-examine their collections.

A major breakthrough came in 2014, when a British man returned two Benin Bronzes inherited from his grandfather. Then, in 2016, students at Jesus College, Cambridge, successfully pushed for the return of a bronze cockerel stolen from Benin.

Momentum grew quickly. Countries like France, Germany, and the United States began developing restitution policies. Museums in Europe and America started to voluntarily return stolen artifacts.

• In 2021, Germany pledged to return hundreds of Benin Bronzes to Nigeria.

• The Smithsonian Institution in the U.S. and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., also announced returns.

• In 2022, Jesus College and Aberdeen University in the UK restituted their Benin artifacts.

• The Horniman Museum in London became the first UK public museum to return its Benin collection.

• In 2023, the Nigerian government officially recognized the Oba of Benin’s rights to the artifacts, clearing legal and political roadblocks.

In June 2025, the Netherlands returned 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria in the largest single restitution to date. The handover took place in Lagos, with Nigerian officials and the Benin Royal Court in attendance.

Just one week later, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston returned two additional items directly to Oba Ewuare II, acknowledging the monarchy’s role as the true custodian of the heritage.

Many of the returned artifacts are expected to be displayed in the upcoming Edo Museum of West African Art (EMOWAA) in Benin City, designed by renowned architect David Adjaye. Others may be housed in royal or national museums or displayed on long-term loan from the Oba.

Despite the progress, hundreds especially the 928 in the British Museum are yet to be returned. Legal limitations and political debates continue. But the tide is turning, and more institutions are facing moral and ethical pressure to return what was taken unjustly.