Nigerian artists propose contemporary art donation to British Museum for Benin Bronzes return
The Ahiamwen Guild, an assembly of Nigerian artists situated in Benin City, has put forth a plan to gift contemporary pieces to the British Museum in return for the return of the Benin Bronzes, which were taken in 1897. These artworks, claimed to be 'untainted by any history of looting,' are intended to represent modern Benin culture. Osarobo Zeickner-Okoro, a founding member, emphasized that the tradition of bronze-making remains alive. Curators from the museum's Africa department are set to meet with Zeickner-Okoro to deliberate on the proposal, which features a 2-meter bronze plaque and a life-sized ram sculpture crafted from spark plugs. This effort is in line with global repatriation initiatives, such as Germany's 2021 pledge and a 2020 report on decolonizing museum collections.
Key facts
- The Ahiamwen Guild of artists from Benin City, Nigeria, offers contemporary artworks to the British Museum in return for Benin Bronzes.
- The British Museum holds nearly 1,000 Benin Bronzes looted from the Benin royal court in 1897.
- Osarobo Zeickner-Okoro, a founding guild member, will meet with British Museum Africa department curators to discuss the proposal.
- Proposed artworks include a 2-meter bronze plaque and a life-size ram made from spark plugs.
- Germany committed to repatriating its Benin Bronzes collection in April 2021.
- A 2020 report by Felwine Sarr and Bénédicte Savoy advocated for decolonizing Western museum collections.
- The British Museum partners with Legacy Restoration Trust for the future Edo Museum of West African Art designed by Adjaye Associates.
- The Edo Museum project is in concept design stage and requires a five-year archaeology research project before construction.
Entities
Artists
- Osarobo Zeickner-Okoro
- Felwine Sarr
- Bénédicte Savoy
Institutions
- British Museum
- Ahiamwen Guild
- Legacy Restoration Trust
- Adjaye Associates
- Edo Museum of West African Art
- ArtReview
- Reuters
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Benin City
- Nigeria
- France
- Germany