Germany plans to hand back ancient, pillaged artefacts known as the Benin Bronzes to Nigeria next year, after museum experts and political leaders struck an agreement on Thursday.  

Most of the artefacts were looted by British forces during a military expedition to the kingdom, in what is now Nigeria, in 1897.

The 16th-18th century metal plaques and sculptures that decorated the royal palace of the Kingdom of Benin are among the most highly regarded works of African art. They are now scattered around European museums.

After the decision on Thursday, the next step will be to develop a road map for the return, which should be completed in the next few months.

That will mean inventorying all the items by June 15, followed by a meeting on June 29 to consider the best approach.

Germany puts museum cooperation with Africa on agenda

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas called the agreement "a turning point in our approach to colonial history."

"We have been working intensively for months to create the framework conditions for this," he said, adding: "We have put the issue of museum cooperation with Africa on the political agenda and sought dialogue with our Nigerian partners, the architect and the initiators of the Benin Museum."

"From archaeological cooperation to the training of museum managers and assistance with cultural infrastructure, we have put together a package and are continuing to work on it with our Nigerian partners."

Decolonizing museums

Nanette Snoep, a Dutch anthropologist and curator from the Rautenstrach-Joest-Museum in Cologne, said, "museums and politicians have become aware of the fact that it is really necessary to decolonize museums. And decolonizing also means restitution."

With this decision, Culture Minister Monika Gruetters said, "We want to contribute to understanding and reconciliation with the descendants of those whose cultural treasures were stolen during colonization."

Hermann Parzinger of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation said the goal is to return the first items by 2022. He said talks are planned with the group's Nigerian counterparts to ensure "substantial returns and future cooperation."

Those would include talks about allowing some of the items to remain on display in German museums. However, Snoep says this decision must be made by the Nigerians.

"Nigerian partners can decide by themselves how this restitution will take place, how this repatriation will take place and, if some of the looted art will remain in German museums, it must be their decision how we will represent the Benin artworks in our museums and also what kind of story we will tell in our German museums," said Snoep. 

The famous bronzes are to be found in a number of German museums. The Berlin Ethnological Museum holds around 530 artefacts from the kingdom of Benin, including around 440 bronzes.

Some 180 of the bronzes are due to be exhibited this year in Berlin's Humboldt Forum, a new museum complex that opened in December.

Pressure on former colonial powers to return looted artworks

The restitution debate began many years ago, but were largely ignored by Western museums. It was also a taboo topic among anthropologists. According to anthropologist Snoep, a lot of Africans began making the call decades ago. "African intellectuals first started this debate. Now we only hear the voices of Western museum directors and politicians. But the good fight started in Africa," Snoep said.

The curator adds that she hoped "it doesn't become a white on white dialogue again."   

Most European former colonial powers have begun a process in recent years of considering the return of looted artefacts to the former colonies, especially in Africa.

Last month, the University of Aberdeen in Scotland agreed to return a Benin Bronze sculpture to Nigeria, saying it was acquired by British soldiers in 1897 in "reprehensible circumstances."

That decision raised pressure on other establishments, including the British Museum, to follow suit. The British Museum meanwhile is reportedly considering lending its Bronzes to Nigeria.

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In Nigeria's capital Abuja meanwhile, many people welcomed the announcement, describing it as a historic moment for Nigeria. "I think it is a good development because those artefacts are our history in physical form," said Okwuchi Jim-Nna. "It shows that Africa in general and Nigeria in particular has values and they are beginning to respect the culture of the people," Steve Farunbi added. 

Jemilah Idomas said it was a "laudable effort" by Germany. "Kudos to the German Government."

However, a few Nigerians meanwhile believed their country was not ready to host the artifacts. "Bringing such artefacts into the country which have immeasurable value will not serve the purpose," Samson Orija argued. "We are not ready, yet. I think they should still hold onto it."

"With the insecurity now, the safety of those artifacts cannot be guaranteed," said Shegun Daramola. "So, until we are ready they should still hold onto it. When they bring it now may be another country will steal it. Or it gets missing within the country or get destroyed."

Museum to be built in Benin City

Nigeria plans to build a museum in Benin city to house the looted artefacts after they are returned, a €3.4 million scheme in which the British museum will participate.

Late last year, France approved the restitution of 26 items from the Kingdom of Dahomey, located within present-day Benin, which had been pillaged in 1892.

"Restitution is really righting [the wrongs] of your own history. And so that's why African voices are crucial in this debate, that we do not, as white directors, recolonize a debate about restitution," said anthropologist Nanette Snoep.  

Correction, April 30, 2021: The article previously stated that the items in France had been stolen from the Kingdom of Benin. That has been changed to Kingdom of Dahomey. We apologize for the error.

Ben Shemang in Abuja and Abu-Bakarr Jalloh contributed to this report.

sri/aw (dpa, AFP, KNA)