Horniman, Oxford and Cambridge University museums plan for return of almost 300 Benin bronzes 8 Aug 2022

The Horniman has announced that it will transfer ownership of 72 Benin Bronzes, looted by the British Expeditionary Force in 1897, to the Nigerian Government, following a decision by its Board of Trustees. The objects range from a brass cockerel altarpiece, brass bells and 12 plaques to everyday objects such as fans and baskets. The decision follows a request from Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) in January, which was followed by detailed research, establishing that the objects had been acquired through force. The Charity Commission has also backed the decision, which is the first of this kind from a Government funded museum.  Speaking about the ethical issues in displaying the items in the past, Director Nick Merriman said “we have had examples of people from Nigerian descent who are quite upset, and we’ve had to train our front-of-house staff to talk to people about the objects. On the other hand, the largest diaspora group in our local community is Nigerian. There’s always been a case that it’s a good thing for the Nigerian community, and our visitors generally, to have an example of this major west African civilisation on display.” Now, although the bronzes will return to Nigerian ownership, Merriman is planning to ask to loan some of them back.

Meanwhile, the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge have also agreed to return 213 Benin bronzes, following an NCCM request. These collections, which are likely to be the UK’s most extensive return of artefacts to date, are currently held at Pitt Rivers and the Ashmolean in Oxford and the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Cambridge. MAA Director Professor Nicholas Thomas said “across the international museum sector, there is growing recognition that illegitimately acquired artefacts should be returned to their countries of origin.” The decision again ultimately lies in the hands of the Charity Commission, which has to weigh in “when a charity wishes to transfer property or assets due to a feeling of moral obligation”.  However, it seems likely to agree to the transfer by the end of the year, given the Horniman decision and that it has previously signed off on the return of an ornamental cockerel from the University of Cambridge in 2021. Commenting on the changing situation, Arts Minister Lord Parkinson said that claims must be decided on a case by case basis and it is not for Government to 'tell the museums what the right or wrong decision is'. He added “it’s bad history if a nation sweeps things under the carpet and forgets them. It’s also bad history if you create new myths of wickedness and sins of the past. We have to confront the facts and learn lessons from them.” Art Newspaper, Horniman, Times, Telegraph