Benin Bronze, Edo artist, oba head, Metropolitan Museum of art

Between Restitution and Repatriation: Benin Bronzes in Museum Collections

European museums are scrutinized for the actions they took (or did not take) in favor of restitution. Since March 2021, many institutions both in the UK and in Germany have announced the restitution of the Benin bronzes they hold in their collections. Most of these artefacts were looted during a British punitive expedition in 1897 in Benin City (Nigeria). According to Dan Hicks, Benin bronzes are now scattered between at least 161 museums.

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