Stolen Benin Bronzes Return after Final Berlin Display

Hundreds of Benin bronzes stolen during the colonial era and once adorning the Kingdom of Benin’s royal palace will be on display in Berlin for the final time on Saturday before being repatriated to Nigeria..

The renowned pieces of African art and their turbulent journey up to the exhibition at the Humboldt Museum reflect Germany’s gradual reckoning with the colonial era and past injustices.

The decision to return some of the bronzes is the latest in a series of steps taken by Germany to try to accept responsibility for colonial-era crimes, including the official recognition in May 2021 of genocide committed by Germany in Namibia.

Among the items on display are a pair of thrones and a commemorative bust of the monarch, which once adorned the walls of the royal palace in Benin City, Nigeria.

According to the German side, two rooms in the sprawling museum are dedicated to the art and history of the Kingdom of Benin, an exhibition realized “in close cooperation with partners in Nigeria.”

The removal of the precious objects is explained in the gallery, and educational workshops are planned to complement the exhibit.

After being looted by the British at the end of the nineteenth century, thousands of Benin bronzes, metal plaques, and sculptures are now scattered throughout European museums.

The recognition of colonial injustices and subsequent return of the items “will continue to define our work in the future,” said Hermann Parzinger, president of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, which oversees the national museums in Berlin.

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