University of Cambridge will return Benin Bronzes to Nigeria
Cambridge University will return Benin Bronzes to Nigeria in move that piles pressure on British Museum to follow suit
- The University of Cambridge will return 116 looted Benin Bronzes to Nigeria
- Cambridge was ‘under a moral obligation’ to return the artefacts, officials say
- They were taken by British armed forces during the sacking of Benin City in 1897
The University of Cambridge will return 116 looted Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, putting pressure on the British Museum to follow suit.
The artefacts were taken by British armed forces during the sacking of Benin City in 1897 and will now be transferred to the Nigerian National Commission for Museums and Monuments.
The move comes after the Charity Commission concluded Cambridge was ‘under a moral obligation’ to return the artefacts. It follows a similar agreement made by chiefs at the Horniman Museum.
Last year, London’s popular British Museum received a written request from Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Information and Culture requesting the return of ‘Nigerian antiquities,’ but the museum has declined to do so.
The University of Cambridge will return 116 looted Benin Bronzes to Nigeria after the Charity Commission concluded it was ‘under a moral obligation’ to do so. Pictured: Small carved wooden male figure, listed as originating from the ‘Benin West Africa Expedition 1897’
The artefacts were taken by British armed forces during the sacking of Benin City in 1897 and will now be transferred to the Nigerian National Commission for Museums and Monuments. Pictured: A brass penannular bracelet decorated with heavy slanting bands
In 1897, a British naval expedition was raised to avenge the deaths of nine officers killed during a trade dispute between the king of Benin and Britain.
Britain sent a force of 500 men to destroy what was then the Kingdom of Benin, which is in modern-day Nigeria.
After ten days of fierce fighting, the British burnt down the palace and looted the royal treasures: delicate ivory carvings and magnificent copper alloy sculptures and plaques – now known as the Benin Bronzes.
After the sacking of Benin, the bronzes were taken by the British to pay for the expedition.
One of them, a bronze cockerel, ended up being a permanent fixture in the dining hall at Jesus College, Cambridge.
Many people have campaigned for the cockerel to be returned over the years and in November last year, Cambridge University agreed to return it to Nigeria.
A number of other museums and universities have since also agreed to send items back in recent weeks.
One campaigner was BBC historian David Olusoga who said The British Museum, which holds hundreds of the sculptures, should have a ‘Supermarket Sweep’ where countries have two minutes to take back their artefacts.
Cambridge supported a formal claim from Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) for the return of the items earlier this year.
A university spokesperson told MailOnline today: ‘The Charity Commission has considered and approved the return of 116 historical objects, often referred to as the Benin Bronzes, from the University of Cambridge’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (MAA) to the National Commission of Museums and Monuments (NCMM) of Nigeria.
‘The University is now working with the Commission to finalise next steps regarding these Benin Bronzes, and we will communicate these in due course.’
Some artefacts will remain in Cambridge ‘on extended loan’ to ensure the West African civilisation is represented museum displays, and in teaching for school groups.
Nigeria’s NCMM told Cambridge it welcomes proposals for loan arrangements that will enable artefacts to remain on display with ‘appropriate acknowledgement.’
‘Those that return physically will be transferred to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, as is required legally by the Republic of Nigeria, and an approach formally supported by the Oba of Benin,’ the spokesperson added.
The spokesperson also shared how in 2017 the university hosted a meeting of the Benin Dialogue Group, which gathers European museums and representatives of the Government of Nigeria and the Royal Court of Benin.
Since the meeting, Cambridge’s MAA has ‘supported the BDG commitment to returning work to a major new museum in development in Benin City.’
The university’s decision to return the artefacts is in line with similar commitments recently made by other Suropean and US museums.
Cambridge says the decision reflects a ‘sector-wide move away from keeping together collections irrespective of how those artefacts were collected.’
Cambridge supported a formal claim from Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) for the return of the items earlier this year. Pictured: Commemorative Head of the Oba, or King
The British acquired the artefacts, which are mainly made of brass but also include some ivory and wooden objects, during the sacking of Benin City in 1897.
During the attack, British armed forces burned the city’s palace and exiled Benin’s Oba, or king, with thousands of brasses and other works – collectively known as the ‘Benin bronzes’ – taken and later sold off in London to recoup the costs of the military mission.
The artefacts, which are considered to be of exceptional artistic quality and significance, ended up in museums in the UK, Europe and US, with claims for their restitution dating back to the mid-20th century.
Last month, the Horniman Museum, in south London, returned looted Benin bronzes to Nigeria, while the Wellcome Collection closed its Medicine Man gallery because it ‘perpetuates a version of medical history that is based on racist, sexist and ableist theories and language’.
In January, the NCMM requested the items at the Horniman Museum be returned.
The museum hen carried out detailed research and contacted community members, visitors, schoolchildren, academics, heritage professionals and artists based in Nigeria and the UK.
Museum trustees decided to return ownership of the collection and this was given the green light by the Charity Commission, which regulates the charitable sector, on August 5.
Last month, the Horniman Museum, in south London, returned looted Benin bronzes to Nigeria. The Benin Bronzes were 12 brass plaques among 72 items in the Horniman Museum looted from Nigeria in 1897
A brass cockerel altar piece, ivory and brass ceremonial objects, brass bells, everyday items such as fans and baskets and a key ‘to the king’s palace’ were also among the items in the Horniman Museum
A similar request was made to the British Museum, which houses over 900 objects from Benin, in October 2021.
The museum, according to its website, it working with a number of partners in Nigeria and says it is committed to a ‘thorough and open investigation’ of the history of the artefacts and the looting of Benin City.
‘The museum is committed to active engagement with Nigerian institutions concerning the Benin Bronzes, including pursuing and supporting new initiatives developed in collaboration with Nigerian partners and colleagues,’ the website reads.
‘The Museum is also committed to thorough and open investigation of Benin collection histories, and engagement with wider contemporary dialogues within which these collections are positioned.
‘This includes fully acknowledging and understanding the colonial history which provided the key context for the development of the Museum’s Benin collections.’
The British Museum has also reportedly been in secret talks about returning the Elgin Marbles, also known as the Parthenon Marbles, back to Greece.
The Greek government has been demanding their return since they were removed from the country in the 19th century.
However, Downing Street has said there were no plans to change the current law that ‘does not allow’ historical objects to leave the UK apart from in certain circumstances – meaning the Elgin Marbles cannot be returned to Greece.
Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan stated earlier this month that handing back the 2,500-year-old sculptures would be a ‘very dangerous and slippy road’ and could spark a wave of demands for the return of other artefacts held in Britain.
British Museum chief George Osborne is in secret talks with Greek Prime Minister to return Elgin Marbles to Athens
By Christian Oliver and Greg Heffer, Political Correspondent for MailOnline
Earlier this month it was revealed that George Osborne, the chair of the British Museum, has been conducting top-secret negotiations with the Greek prime minister over the transfer of the Elgin Marbles.
It is understood that the classified talks between the former Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis over the relocation of the classical Greek masterpieces had been ongoing since November 2021.
The Elgin Marbles are currently on display at the British Museum, but the Greek government has been demanding their return since they were removed from Greece in the 19th century.
But after the revelations over the secret negotiations between Mr Osborne and Mr Mitsotakis, the ancient sculptures may eventually be removed from the British Museum and returned to Greece.
But Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan says returning the ‘Elgin Marbles’ to Greece would be a ‘very dangerous and slippy road’.
George Osborne (left), the chair of the British Museum has been conducting top-secret negotiations with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis over the transfer of the Elgin Marbles
The British government has agreed to Unesco-backed talks on the repatriation of the Elgin Marbles, pictured on display at the British Museum, which could see the artefacts brought back to Greece and resolve the long-standing issue
The Elgin Marbles are made up of 17 marble figures and are part of a frieze that decorated the 2,500-year-old Parthenon temple on the Acropolis, made by sculptor Phidias.
The sculptures were taken by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century when he was the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, and have since been the subject of a long-running dispute over where they should be displayed.
Around 260ft (80metres) of the marbles are in London, whilst Athens is home to a smaller 164ft (50metres) section.
But the Greek prime minister wants the rest of the Elgin Marbles – or Parthenon Mables as they are known in Greece – returned home.
The Elgin Marbles (pictured) are a 17-figure collection of classical Greek marble sculptures made by architect and sculptor Phidias, a Greek sculptor whose statue of Zeus, the god of the sky in ancient Greek mytholgy, was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world
The Elgin Marbles were taken from the Parthenon in Athens by the then British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Lord Elgin, between 1801 and 1812, and are now on display at the British Museum (pictured)
For some 13 months, Mr Osborne is understood to have met with the Greek prime minister on multiple occasions as well as senior Greek government ministers.
Greek newspaper Ta Nea, revealed that two of the negotiations, including the very first in November 2021, took place at the Greek ambassador’s residence at 51 Upper Mayfair in Mayfair, London.
At the first meeting the British Museum chief and Greek PM held exploratory talks to determine a path forward for both parties. The Greek leader was in London to meet with then British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, but made sure to schedule an appointment with British Museum chiefs.
Mr Mitsotakis has long wanted the sculptures returned and has previously even offered to loan other Greek treasures to the British Museum in exchange.
Since the first November 2021 talks, Mr Osborne and Mr Mitsotakis, and other senior Greek government ministers, have met several times, face-to-face in London, and remotely over video call.
In return for the repatriation of the Elgin Marbles to the Acropolis Musueum, the UK would enter a formal cultural partnership with Greece. Dubbed ‘The Parthenon Partnership’, the British Museum would then have an agreement in place to showcase a rotating exhibition of Greek artefacts not previously seen outside of the country.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has long wanted the Elgin Marbles returned, even offering to loan other Greek treasures to the British Museum in exchange
The Elgin Marbles are made up of 17 marble figures and are part of a frieze that decorated the 2,500-year-old Parthenon temple on the Acropolis (pictured), made by sculptor Phidias
Despite the ongoing talks, an agreement is yet to be finalised.
But a Greek source involved in the negotiations told Ta Nea that ‘the devil is in the details.’
They added: ‘An agreement is 90 per cent complete, but a critical 10 per cent remains unresolved. It’s hard to get there, but it’s not impossible.’
A spokesperson for the British Museum told MailOnline that the museum has ‘publicly called for a new Parthenon Partnership with Greece and we’ll talk to anyone, including the Greek government about how to take that forward.’
They added: ‘We operate within the law and we’re not going to dismantle our great collection as it tells a unique story of our common humanity. But we are seeking new positive, long term partnerships with countries and communities around the world, and that of course includes Greece.’
Just last year, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, when asked about a possible return of the Elgin Marbles by Ta Nea, categorically shut down any Greek hopes of a possible return.
Mr Johnson said: ‘The UK Government has a firm longstanding position on the sculptures which is that they were legally acquired by Lord Elgin under the appropriate laws of the time and have been legally owned by the British Museum’s Trustees since their acquisition.’
Downing Street has ruled out changing legislation that would prevent the British Museum from handing the sculptures back to Greece.
Ms Donelan suggested handing back the 2,500-year-old sculptures would spark a wave of demands for the return of other artefacts held in Britain.
‘Where does that end?,’ asked the Cabinet Minister, as she highlighted how the law currently ‘does not allow’ historical objects to leave the UK apart from in certain circumstances.
And, appearing before the House of Commons’ Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee in early December, Ms Donelan signalled her own opposition to their return to Athens.
Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan suggested handing back the ‘Elgin Marbles’ would spark a wave of demands for the return of other artefacts held in Britain
Lord Elgin removed about half of the remaining sculptures from the ruins of the Parthenon between 1801 and 1805, before they entered the British Museum
‘I think George Osborne’s position is a little bit different to has been portrayed,’ Ms Donelan told MPs.
‘But there are some people that are strongly advocating to return some of these items permanently. The current law does not allow that, it should be acknowledged.
‘I can completely understand the position that they are taking and I can sympathise with some of the argument. But I do think that is a very dangerous and slippy road to embark down.’
The Culture Secretary added that Britain had ‘taken great care’ over artefacts held in the country’s museums ‘for decades’ and had conducted ‘considerable’ research into historical items.
She told the committee: ‘Once you start giving one back, where does that end?
‘It’s also very difficult to know who to give these things back to. We’re talking about very ancient items in many respects.
‘There are certain examples where it is not clear over exactly who the owners are. And others where I would argue it is more clear that we have a direct link to ownership.
‘But, certainly, I think the current status quo is working and we should protect it.’
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