Nigeria: Cologne returns original artefacts

Brussels 20.12.2022 Nigeria has taken back ownership of 92 bronze sculptures that make up the so-called Benin Bronzes from a museum in the German city of Cologne, following an agreement that was signed by the city’s Mayor. (Image: Cologne Museum)

Nigeria marked a milestone in its years-long fight to get back the Benin bronze sculptures stolen by colonialists, with Germany returning the first batch of some 1,000 artifacts still held in its museums. pic.twitter.com/pubA9p0Dxj

— DW News (@dwnews) December 20, 2022

The director general of Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums, Abba Isa Tijani, was in Cologne to sign the agreement with mayor Henriette Reker.

More than 1,130 Benin bronze statues looted by Germany will be returned to Nigeria 🇳🇬 in a bid to right colonial pilferage.

The statues have been in display at Museums in Germany for decades. pic.twitter.com/6RPIS23XH0

— Africa View Facts (@AfricaViewFacts) December 20, 2022

The transfer of the bronzes from the Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum is the most recent in an ongoing attempt to see the artwork looted by colonial powers returned to their the places of origin.

Germany has returned 20 historic bronze sculptures to Nigeria as part of efforts to address what German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called her country's “dark colonial past.” https://t.co/gXZZKBimOi

— AP Africa (@AP_Africa) December 20, 2022

“This is a milestone in a difficult debate lasting decades about the restitution of looted art, with national and international significance,” Reker said.