Cambridge Returns 116 Looted Bronzes to Nigeria

After 127 years, treasures stolen during a brutal military raid are heading back to where they belong.

Cambridge University's Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology has transferred ownership of 116 Benin artifacts to Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments. The items will physically return home before the end of 2026.

British armed forces looted the treasures during the violent 1897 sack of Benin City. Among the pieces are wooden and ivory sculptures, plus commemorative heads of King Oba and Queen Mother Lyoba Idia.

The journey home started in 2022 when Nigeria's museum commission formally requested the return of what's known as the "Benin Bronzes." Cambridge's council supported the claim, and the UK Charity Commission eventually granted approval.

While 116 items will be returned, 17 will stay at Cambridge temporarily on a three-year loan. They'll remain accessible for public viewing and academic study during that time.

Museum director Nicholas Thomas says the decision reflects years of meaningful dialogue. "It has been immensely rewarding to engage with colleagues from the National Commission, members of the Royal Court, and Nigerian scholars, students, and artists over the last 10 years," he said.

The returned objects will find new homes in museums in Lagos and Benin City. Nigeria's museum commission expects the transfer to happen before year's end.

The Ripple Effect

Cambridge joins a growing wave of institutions choosing to right historical wrongs. Germany returned 1,030 Benin Bronzes in 2022. That same year, three US museums sent back 31 pieces. The Netherlands and UK's Horniman Museum have also returned looted artifacts.

France recently adopted a bill to simplify returning colonial-era treasures. The movement reflects mounting international support for repatriation of items taken through colonial violence.

Back in Nigeria, the returned artifacts sparked an interesting debate about their proper home. The federal government officially recognized the Oba of Benin as the rightful owner and custodian in April 2023. Plans are already underway for a Benin Royal Museum to house these precious pieces of history.

Sometimes the right thing takes time, but it's never too late to bring treasures home.