A British colonial expedition stole the bas-relief Bronzes along with a vast number of other treasures from the royal palace of the Kingdom of Benin in 1897.
Germany is set to sign an agreement in Nigeria on Friday paving the way for the return of important sculptures known as the Benin Bronzes that were taken from Africa in the late 19th century.
Smithsonian to return its collection of Benin bronzes to Nigeria ... And so it begins: Germany and Nigeria sign pre-accord on restitution of Benin bronzes.
A resolution is imminent in the dispute over more than 1,000 bronzes stolen from the former Kingdom of Benin. Germany wants to return all the objects to Nigeria.
Germany is set to return more than 1,000 previously disputed bronzes looted from the former Kingdom of Benin, in present-day Nigeria.
The German Press Agency (DPA) quoted Nigerian Information and Culture Minister Alhaji Lai Mohammed as saying that delegations of both countries have signed a memorandum of understanding in Nigeria's capital, Abuja. An agreement will follow before the end of December.
"The German government and the German people have taken a courageous step by agreeing to return the artifacts voluntarily and without much pressure from Nigeria," DPA quoted the culture minister as saying.
Preparing for new German government
The German delegation at the talks was led by Andreas Görgen, the head of the department responsible for cultural policy at the Foreign Ministry. "We also wanted to prepare the way with a new federal government in mind," Görgen told DPA. The government could then reach an agreement on the exact schedule and other issues at the political level.
Future cooperation between Germany and Nigeria should not only be about restitution and circulation of Benin bronzes, but should also include cooperation in archaeology, engagement in cultural infrastructure and training of museum managers, Görgen added.
"Far beyond the issue of restitution, we are reshaping cultural relations with Nigeria as we move forward today," Görgen said.
Governments and museums in Europe and North America have increasingly sought to resolve ownership disputes over objects that were looted during colonial times.
A British colonial expedition stole the bas-relief Bronzes along with a vast number of other treasures from the royal palace of the Kingdom of Benin in 1897.
The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, an authority that oversees many of Berlin’s museums, announced last year that it was beginning formal negotiations on returning pieces that are in its collection. The memorandum of understanding will be signed in Berlin by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Culture Minister Claudia Roth, as well as their Culture Minister Lai Mohammed and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zubairo Dada.
Final details of the restitution have yet to be announced, but the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation says it expects to keep some of the Bronzes on loan from Nigeria.
Last year, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C., removed 10 Benin Bronze pieces from display and committed to repatriating them to Nigeria. Other museums have also begun discussions about returning the objects.
Many of the objects remain in the British Museum, which has resisted calls to return them.
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