Following the successful handover of a Benin bronze cockerel, Okukor, to Nigerian officials by the Jesus College of Cambridge University in an official ceremony held in London yesterday, another UK educational institution has returned a Benin artifact in their possession.

Today, October 28, 2021, the University of Aberdeen, Scotland presented a Benin bronze sculpture that depicts the head of an Oba (King) to delegates from the Benin royal kingdom and officials of the Nigerian National Commission for Museums and Monuments. The artifact, part of the hoard looted from the old Benin kingdom by British forces in the invasion of 1897, had been purchased by the university in an auction in 1957. The bronze head’s membership of the infamous Benin bronzes was confirmed when the university researched the provenance of art objects in its collections recently.

Afterward, the university embarked on repatriation measures and this began with a conversation with Nigeria through a Professor of Law in Babcock University, Nigeria, Prof. Bankole Sodipo. As the parley progressed, the Nigerian delegates made up of members from the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, the Edo State Government, and the Royal Court of the Oba initiated a formal request for repatriation of the sculpture to its place of origin in March of this year. This request was unanimously approved by the University Court following discussion by an expert panel, which included representatives of the University, the Director of the Hunterian Museum in the University of Glasgow, and Professor Sodipo representing the Nigerian partners. Subsequently, a date was set for the official return ceremony and that day has come upon us.

In attendance to receive the artifact at the University’s campus in Scotland were Prince Aghatise Erediauwa, the younger brother of the current Benin monarch; Chief Charles Uwensuyi-Edosomwan, the Obasuyi of Benin; Professor Abba Isa Tijani, Director of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments; Babatunde Adebiyi, the Legal Adviser of National Commission for Museums and Monuments; and Abdul Mohammed Gimba, Director, Museums, National Commission for Museums and Monuments. Prince Isa Bayero, a Prince of the Kano Emirates; His Excellency, Suleiman Sani, Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria in the UK; and Mrs. Edith Ekunke, Retired Director of the National Museum, Lagos were also present to accompany the Nigerian delegates.

About the handing over of the Benin artifact, Professor George Boyne, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen, said: “Over the last 40 years the Benin Bronzes have become important symbols of injustice.

“It would not have been right to have retained an item of such great cultural significance that was acquired in such reprehensible circumstances.

“The University took a proactive approach to identify the appropriate people to discuss what to do and we are extremely grateful for the collective approach taken by the partners in Nigeria, which has facilitated this return.

“We are delighted to welcome our guests representing the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Kingdom of Benin, and the National Commission for Museums and Monuments and commend their spirit of co-operation in making this possible.”

On his part, Professor Abba Isa Tijani, Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, commended the University’s action, saying: “We at the National Commission for Museums and Monuments of Nigeria really appreciate the initiative of the University of Aberdeen to release the Benin Bronze head in their collection.

“The University commenced this move without being instigated. This is unprecedented. On its volition, the University felt it ought to return to Nigeria an important cultural object it obtained some decades ago through what can pass in the United Kingdom as legal acquisition. I must appreciate Professor Bankole Sodipo who linked up with Lawyer Babatunde Adebiyi of the Commission to ensure that an avenue for discussion was created.

“The synergy was an added impetus to the initiative of the University of Aberdeen. Today, we are witnessing the success story. The Commission intends to cement its relationship with the University of Aberdeen and also work with the University in fashioning mutual agreements with other universities and institutions in the region regarding Nigerian artifacts in their holdings.

“We earnestly expect without any doubt that other persons and institutions will reach out to us for talks on the way forward concerning Nigerian artifacts in their possession. The Aberdeen return should inspire all to a future of friendly returns.”

The royal court of Benin had earlier in a statement by His Royal Majesty, Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, stressed the importance of returning all looted Benin artifacts from anywhere they may currently reside in the world while urging other institutions in possession of pieces of Benin bronze artifacts from the 1897 hoard to follow the example of the University of Aberdeen and the Jesus College of Cambridge University.

He said: “Much has been said about the significance of heritage art and, in spite of the occasional attempts in some quarters to downplay their cultural and religious relevance, these works are often imbued with the spirit of the people from whom they were taken.

“Regardless of the resistance in some quarters, the return of stolen art is the right thing to do. Some say that they acquired their own collections. This is like saying, well, I know this item was originally stolen but because I bought it somewhere, then I’m okay. That notion is completely wrong and unfortunate.

“In any event, we thank the University of Aberdeen for this noble act of returning our bronze work. We hope that other institutions worldwide will see the injustice when they insist on holding on to items which in fact should be a reminder to them of the great injustice that was inflicted on a people so far away and so long ago”.