he universities of Oxford and Cambridge was able to return over 200 artifacts looted by British colonial troops in 1897, after Nigeria requested the repatriation of the cultural property this year.
The 213 objects, including many bronzes and some ivory and wooden sculptures, come from Benin Town by British troops in February 1897 in response to a violent trade dispute the previous month.
During the attack, British troops burned the city’s palace and banished the Oba or King of Benin.
Several thousand coppers and other artifacts – collectively known as the Benin Bronzes – were taken by the British and then sold in London to recoup the costs of the military mission.
These works were considered to be of exceptional artistic quality and significance and were eagerly sought after by museums and collectors of the period, resulting in their distribution to many European and US museums, as well as in the UK.
Restitution claims date back to the mid-twentieth century and have intensified in recent years.
On January 7 this year, Oxford and Cambridge received formal claims from the Nigerian National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) for the return of the items.
Cambridge has identified 116 objects known or believed to have been looted, which are in the collections of the University’s Museum of Archeology and Anthropology (MAA).
The claim against Oxford concerns 97 objects in the collections of the Pitt Rivers Museum and the Ashmolean Museum.
Both universities support the claims for the return of the artifacts, which will be considered by the Charity Commission before their return can be authorized.
Cambridge University said its decision was in line with similar commitments recently made by other US and European museums, and reflects an industry-wide shift from keeping collections together regardless of how those artifacts were collected.
The Nigerian National Commission on Museums and Monuments has said it welcomes proposals for loan schemes that would allow artifacts with due recognition to remain on display at Cambridge’s Museum of Archeology and Anthropology.
Professor Nicholas Thomas, Director of Cambridge’s Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, said: “It is increasingly recognized in the international museum sector that ill-gotten artifacts should be returned to their country of origin.
“The Smithsonian and major European museums have decided to return collections to a number of countries.”
The University of Oxford said the claim for the return of the artifacts is expected to be considered in the fall.
In a statement, the University of Oxford said the Pitt Rivers Museum had received a claim from Nigeria for the return of “97 objects in the Pitt Rivers and Ashmolean Museum collections taken from Benin City by British forces in 1897” .
“The claim is now being handled by the university under its procedures for cultural property return claims,” the statement said.
“On June 20, 2022, the Council of the University of Oxford considered and supported the claim for the return of the 97 objects to Nigeria.
“The university is now submitting the case to the Charity Commission and recommends transferring legal ownership of the objects to the NCMM.
“The Charity Commission is expected to consider the claim in the fall of 2022.”
The Nigerian government is developing the Edo Museum of West African Arts, along with a storage and study facility for returned artifacts, which is currently under construction next to the existing Benin City museum.