Who owns the Benin bronzes?

Thanks! Share it with your friends!

You disliked this video. Thanks for the feedback!

Published Apr 29, 2021

In 1897, British troops looted thousands of bronze sculptures and artefacts from the African Kingdom of Benin, located in present-day southern Nigeria. Bronze plaques, masks and other objects have over the years scattered around the world, ending up in Western museums or sold to private collectors.

Generations later - and facing a global movement to address racial injustices - more museums are responding to calls for the return of these objects that hold great cultural significance for Nigeria.

Germany announced that it would remove more than 500 Benin bronzes from its public museums and work toward a full return of the looted artefacts. And in Scotland, the University of Aberdeen became the first institution to repatriate a Benin bronze back to Nigeria. The British Museum holds more than 900 Benin bronzes, but has not committed to returning them.

In this episode of The Stream, we'll look at the debate over repatriating the Benin bronzes.

Join the conversation:
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/AJStream
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/AJStream #ajstream
#beninbronzes