University of Cambridge has formally returned 116 Benin artefacts to Nigeria, transferring legal ownership of the historic objects to the country’s cultural authorities.
The artefacts — widely known as part of the Benin Bronzes — were taken from Benin City by British forces during the 1897 expedition that led to the sacking of the ancient kingdom.
In a statement, the university confirmed that ownership of the objects held at its Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (MAA) has been transferred to Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), which operates under a management agreement with the Benin Royal Palace.
The decision follows a formal repatriation request submitted by the NCMM in January 2022. According to the university, its governing council backed the claim, and authorisation was subsequently granted by the UK Charity Commission.
While the majority of the artefacts will be physically returned to Nigeria in due course, 17 pieces will remain on loan at the MAA for an initial period of three years to allow continued access for visitors, students and researchers.
The 116 objects — primarily brass works, along with ivory and wooden sculptures — were seized during the so-called “Punitive Expedition” of February 1897, launched after a violent trade dispute.
The university noted that the MAA has engaged in long-term research and collaboration with Nigerian stakeholders, including representatives of the Benin Royal Court, artists and academics. Since 2018, museum curators have undertaken study visits to Benin City, meeting the Oba, members of the royal court, and state and federal officials. Cambridge also hosted the Benin Dialogue Group in 2017 and welcomed NCMM and Royal Court representatives in 2021.
Professor Nicholas Thomas, Director of the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, described the return as the result of years of dialogue and growing international support for the repatriation of artefacts acquired through colonial violence.
Olugbile Holloway, Director-General of the NCMM, called the development a pivotal moment, expressing hope that other institutions would follow suit. He added that the return represents not only the restoration of physical objects but also the recovery of cultural pride and dignity.
He also thanked Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, for her support and commended Cambridge for taking what he described as a significant step forward.
