The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has formally received 18 Benin artefacts repatriated from Switzerland more than 125 years after they were looted during the infamous 1897 British punitive expedition against the ancient Benin Kingdom.
The artefacts were handed over at the Oba’s Palace in Benin City by a delegation led by the Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Mr Olugbile Holloway, in what has been described as another major milestone in Nigeria’s campaign to recover cultural treasures taken away during the colonial era.
Receiving the priceless objects, the revered monarch said the return represented much more than the recovery of historical artworks, stressing that the artefacts are sacred symbols of the Benin Kingdom’s identity, governance, spirituality and rich cultural heritage.
He noted that for generations, the Benin people had continued to seek the return of the treasures, many of which remain scattered across museums and private collections in Europe and North America.
Oba hails return of priceless heritage
Oba Ewuare II expressed appreciation to the Swiss government for facilitating the return of the artefacts, describing the gesture as a demonstration of respect for justice, history and cultural identity.
He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, the National Commission for Museums and Monuments and other stakeholders whose efforts contributed to the successful restitution.
According to the monarch, every returned artefact restores an important chapter of the Benin Kingdom’s history that was disrupted by the British invasion of 1897, when thousands of royal objects were carted away after the kingdom was attacked.
The Oba explained that the recovered items are not ordinary museum collections but sacred objects that represent the customs, traditions and authority of the Benin monarchy.
He said preserving such objects within their original cultural environment remains essential for future generations to understand the kingdom’s rich civilisation.
Call for return of more artefacts
While celebrating the latest restitution, the Oba appealed to countries and institutions still holding Benin artefacts to emulate Switzerland by returning the remaining treasures.
He specifically urged the German government to complete the implementation of its 2022 agreement with Nigeria regarding the return of more than 1,000 Benin artworks currently in German museums.
Oba Ewuare II disclosed that since ascending the throne, over 150 original Benin artefacts have been returned to the kingdom through collaborative efforts involving the Federal Government, international partners and cultural organisations.
He traced the struggle for the recovery of the artefacts to the reign of his grandfather, Oba Akenzua II, noting that successive administrations and traditional rulers have sustained the campaign over several decades.
The monarch expressed optimism that continued international cooperation would result in the recovery of many more priceless cultural objects still outside Nigeria.
NCMM pledges continued recovery efforts
Speaking during the ceremony, NCMM Director-General Olugbile Holloway described the return of the artefacts as another important success in Nigeria’s efforts to reclaim its stolen cultural heritage.
He praised the Swiss authorities for their transparency and cooperation throughout the restitution process, saying the partnership demonstrated how countries could work together to address historical injustices.
Holloway assured the Oba that the commission would continue engaging foreign governments, museums and international institutions to facilitate the return of additional Nigerian artefacts.
According to him, preserving the country’s cultural heritage remains one of the commission’s core responsibilities, adding that every recovered artefact strengthens Nigeria’s historical identity and enriches future generations.
Swiss officials describe handover as historic
Switzerland’s Consul-General in Nigeria, Mrs Conny Camenzind, described the repatriation as a historic moment in diplomatic and cultural relations between Switzerland and Nigeria.
She said the return reflected Switzerland’s commitment to promoting ethical museum practices and supporting international efforts to correct historical injustices associated with colonial-era looting.
Also speaking, Swiss museum director Prof. Alice Hertzog described the restitution as a symbolic homecoming for the artefacts, noting that they belonged to the Benin Kingdom where they carried deep cultural and spiritual significance.
The Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, also welcomed the development, describing it as another victory for the people of Benin and Nigeria as a whole.
He expressed hope that other countries still holding looted Benin artefacts would follow Switzerland’s example by returning the priceless treasures to their rightful owners, thereby helping to preserve one of Africa’s richest cultural legacies for generations to come.