Germany plans to start returning the artefacts known as the Benin bronzes that are held in its museums to Nigeria from next year, according to authorities.
A colonial expedition by British soldiers seized thousands of metal castings and sculptures in 1897 during a raid on the Kingdom of Benin, then separate from British-ruled Nigeria.
The “bronzes” – actually copper alloy relief sculptures, many showing court figures – were auctioned off and then spread among institutions from New Zealand to Germany and the United States, with the biggest collection in London.
In recent years, calls have grown louder to return what was stolen, fuelled partly by a decolonisation movement sweeping across Europe.
Man Looking for Kevin the Dolphin Accidentally Finds Centuries-Old Logboat
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Published 1 month ago:
May 1, 2021 at 5:00 am
Hoping to find a local dolphin named Kevin, a citizen archaeologist ended up finding a medieval logboat sunk in the shallow water of an Irish river. The man, Anthony Murphy, found the vessel while flying his drone over the River Boyne. “I was actually looking for Kevin the dolphin that has been in the river in the past couple of weeks,” he told The Irish Times. Not a bad consolation prize.
It’s not Murphy’s first archaeological rodeo. In 2018, during a historic drought in Britain that exposed a number of historical sites, Murphy flew a drone near the famous Neolithic site of Newgrange and found a new henge. “What the f is that?” he said at the time.
Germany will start returning Benin bronze to Nigeria next year Art and Culture News
Authorities say Germany plans to start returning objects known as Benin bronzes in its museums from next year to Nigeria.
A colonial expedition led by British soldiers intercepted a metal foundry and sculpture in 1897 in an attack on the Kingdom of Benin in 1897, separated from the then British-ruled Nigeria.
“Bronzes” – truly copper alloy relief sculptures, many of which show court figures – were auctioned off and then expanded from New Zealand to Germany and the United States, making it the largest collection in London.
In recent years, calls are made louder to return what was stolen, partly driven by a decolonization movement across Europe.
Germany s Benin Bronzes will be returned to Nigeria cnn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from cnn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.