Nigeria Rejects British Museum's Loan Offer for Looted Benin Bronzes
Olugbile Holloway, the director general of Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), criticized the British Museum's suggestion to lend the Benin Bronzes, labeling it an affront to Nigeria, which has been seeking the return of these artifacts taken in 1897. In response to Nigeria's restitution request, initially made in 2021, the British Museum offered a loan but dismissed the possibility of transferring ownership, citing the British Museum Act of 1963. Holloway advocates for the permanent return of the stolen items rather than temporary loans. While the British Museum recognizes the Bronzes' origins, it refers to legal limitations. Nigeria's claim has roots dating back to 1991, with formal requests starting in 2021. The museum currently possesses 900 Benin objects.
Key facts
- Olugbile Holloway, director general of Nigeria's NCMM, called the British Museum's loan proposal an insult
- The British Museum offered to lend the Benin Bronzes but ruled out transferring ownership
- Nigeria's official restitution request was submitted in 2021, with details provided in July 2022
- The British Museum cites the British Museum Act of 1963 as preventing deaccession
- British Museum director Nicholas Cullinan said in May 2025 that ownership transfer was not envisaged
- The University of Cambridge transferred ownership of 116 Benin objects to Nigeria in February 2026
- The Horniman Museum transferred 72 objects in 2022
- France returned 26 works from the Musée du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac to Benin in 2021
- The British Museum holds 900 objects from the Kingdom of Benin
- The Bronzes were looted in 1897 during the British invasion of Benin City
Entities
Artists
- Olugbile Holloway
- Nicholas Cullinan
- Oba of Benin
- Emma Boutier
Institutions
- National Commission for Museums and Monuments
- British Museum
- University of Cambridge
- Horniman Museum
- Musée du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac
- Ministry of Information and Culture
- lejournaldesarts.fr
Locations
- Nigeria
- Benin City
- United Kingdom
- London
- Cambridge
- France
- Abomey
- Benin
- Greece
- Athens