The University of Aberdeen in Scotland is to return a Benin bronze sculpture to Nigeria, which it says was taken by British soldiers in 1897 in “reprehensible circumstances”. It will be the first institution to agree to the full return of stolen artifacts from Benin.
The British museum is also yet to follow suit.
The university acquired the bronze sculpture depicting an “Oba” (king) of Benin at auction in 1957, and it is considered a classic example of Benin Late Period Art.
Thousands of metal and ivory sculptures and carvings, known as the Benin bronzes were forcefully removed during the British expedition from the Benin royal palace at a time when the kingdom blossomed.
The university called it one of the most unfortunate events in British colonial history.
Source: Standard Gazette