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Tag: artefacts

  • University of Cambridge Returns 116 Benin Artefacts to Nigeria

    University of Cambridge Returns 116 Benin Artefacts to Nigeria

    The University of Cambridge has formally transferred ownership of 116 Benin artefacts from its Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (MAA) collections to Nigeria. The artefacts were handed over to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), which manages them under an agreement with the Benin Royal Palace.

    According to NCMM, the decision follows a formal request made in January 2022 for the return of artefacts looted by British forces during the sacking of Benin City in 1897. The University’s Council approved the claim, and authorisation from the UK Charity Commission was subsequently granted.

    The physical transfer of most of the artefacts will be arranged in due course, while a small number will remain on loan and on display at Cambridge to remain accessible to museum visitors, students, and researchers. The move aligns with similar commitments by museums in the UK, US, and Europe to return cultural heritage items to their countries of origin.

    The 116 objects, primarily brass with some ivory and wooden sculptures, were taken during the British ‘Punitive Expedition’ of February 1897, which followed a violent trade dispute the previous month and resulted in the looting of the Benin Royal Palace.

    Speaking on the development, Olugbile Holloway, Director-General of NCMM, described the transfer as a pivotal moment in the ongoing collaboration between Nigeria and the University of Cambridge, highlighting the importance of restoring cultural heritage to its rightful custodians.

    The return of the artefacts is expected to strengthen historical and cultural ties between Nigeria and the UK while providing opportunities for research, education, and public engagement in both countries.

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    According to him, “This development marks a pivotal point in our dialogue with the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Cambridge, and it is our hope that this will spur other museums to head in a similar direction. The return of cultural items for us is not just the return of the physical object, but also the restoration of the pride and dignity that were lost when these objects were taken in the first place. We would like to thank the Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, for all her invaluable support in making this happen, and we applaud Cambridge for taking this step in the right direction. We look forward to welcoming the artefacts back home soon.”

    On his part, Professor Nicholas Thomas, Director of the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, said, “It has been immensely rewarding to engage in dialogue with colleagues from the National Commission of Museums and Monuments, members of the Royal Court, and Nigerian scholars, students, and artists over the last ten years. Over the period, support has mounted, nationally and internationally, for the repatriation of artefacts that were appropriated in the context of colonial violence. This return has been keenly supported across the University community.”

    As one of several UK museums with significant holdings of material taken from Benin in 1897, the MAA has been involved in long-term research and engagement projects in partnership with Nigerian stakeholders and representatives from the Royal Court of the Benin kingdom, as well as artists, academics, and students from Nigeria.

    MAA curators have participated in study and liaison visits to Benin City since 2018, meeting the Oba, members of the Court, state and federal government leaders, and cultural representatives. The University also hosted the Benin Dialogue Group in 2017 and welcomed NCMM and Royal Court representatives to Cambridge in 2021.

  • Oyebanji seeks return of stolen artefacts

    Oyebanji seeks return of stolen artefacts

    Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has called for the return of all the stolen artefacts carved by the late Olowe of Ise-Ekiti, Chief Olowe Ajalemo, from around the world.

    He spoke yesterday during a visit alongside Senator Babafemi Ojudu to the house of the late Olowe in Ise-Ekiti.

    He said allowing the artefacts in the museums of other nations robbed the Yoruba race of its history.

    The governor lamented that many of Olowe’s most magnificent works reside in museums across the world, saying no effort will be spared in ensuring the materials are repatriated.

    He said the late Olowe’s house in Ise-Ekiti would be converted to a world-class standard museum to accommodate all the stolen artefacts upon their return and serve as a hub of artistic exchange.

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    He lauded Senator Ojudu for calling his attention to Olowe’s artistic exploits sitting in museums abroad, saying the return of the artefacts would not only benefit the town, but also Ekiti State, as it would stimulate opportunities for socio-economic growth and development.

    He said Olowe’s artworks are a testament to the country’s rich cultural heritage and artistic excellence, noting that the government was committed to preserving his legacies for new generation of artists to draw inspiration.

  • Curators, scholars charge govt on loot of artefacts

    Curators, scholars charge govt on loot of artefacts

    Scholars, historians, curators and researchers have called on the government to initiate effort to recover Nigerian artefacts, looted away from the country by the colonialists and display in museums across the world.

    The scholars who claimed that they are aware of the excuses of in conducive environment, lack of safety and security for the artefacts as being claimed by the looters are not more than what could be addressed by the government to reclaim the numerous artefacts.

    The stakeholders spoke at a symposium organized by the Initiative For information, Arts and Culture Development in Nigeria (IACD) as parts of efforts to relaunch the organization formerly known as the Nigerian Society for Information, Arts and Culture (NSIAC), a non-governmental resource center.

    An art exhibition themed “Conversation With Heritage” and symposium entitled, “The Benin Loot And Their International Display” brought together historians, authours, scholars, curators and researchers around arts and culture, triggered by a book published on the way Benin artefacts are been displayed at the British Museum, by a Sweden based scholar.

    The author of the book, Dr. Staffan Lunden, a lecturer at the School of Global Studies, Gothenburg University, Sweden said he was challenged to interrogate the views of the British Museum on the Benin looted artefacts.

    Staffan who was visiting Nigeria and Africa for the first time, speaking on his book “Displaying the loot, the Benin objects and the British Museum”, also displayed the pictures of the items on display at the British Museum.

    He said, “The book is titled, ’displaying the loot, the Benin objects and the British Museum’,  is a book which deals with what the British museum says about the Benin loots and the objects looted from Benin since 1897 and I have found out that the topic is interesting to see what the museum says about such a sensitive topic.  The museum is kind of stakeholdering the issue as it relates to the overall question of if the objects should be returned or be kept where they are and that matters a lot. I could also mention that the British museum has its reason for not returning the objects as they claim that they have a universal museum meaning which it shows many different cultures put together equal levels.

    “The Benin objects are very important building stones in the British museum because the British museum run that story which says that when the objects first came to Europe, the Europeans were first surprise because they didn’t think that Africans could make this kind of advanced metal casting, the Europeans thought that it must have been the Portugese that were behind the creation but later the British museum scholars discovered that the objects were indeed indigenous.”

    The Vice President, IACD, Dr. Kolade Mosuro said the symposium on the book was to highlight the attention of the Nation to the loot of 1897 saying “we felt these are the kind of conversations we should be having because our culture and our heritages are our identity and those are who we are and they should be here with us.

    “We hope to bring more awareness to this idea of our objects and we also bring more exposures to indigenous arts representation like what arts meant to us. Because if we are indeed very serious about getting these artefacts back, we should start because even the British indeed knew that we are not serious about getting those things back and I think that was why the conversation has been dragging on for so long. If we are serious we should have conducive environment to keep our facilities and show that we are responsible as a nation too.”

  • ‘How multi-billion naira artefacts were repatriated’

    ‘How multi-billion naira artefacts were repatriated’

    A strategy initiated by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) some 10 years ago to recover looted national cultural objects is yielding results. No fewer than 120 objects worth billions of naira were repatriated from five countries. Some of them are on display at the National Museum, Lagos, Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME reports. 

    Following the futility of confrontational approach hitherto adopted in repatriating the nation’s cultural priceless objects carted away during the colonial administration, the management of National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) has adopted a new strategy of collaboration.

    Recently, the strategy yielded a major dividend as the commission repatriated no fewer than 120 objects worth billions of naira from Switzerland, South Africa, Canada, United States, France and through border seizures.

    This, according to NCMM Director-General Yusuf Abdallah Usman, is the fallout of communication with countries and institutions holding Nigeria’s artefacts within the context of UNESCO, ICOM and other bilateral and multilateral frameworks. Dialogue, collaboration and cooperation, he said, were the main ingredients of the commission’s approach.

    Last Thursday, NCMM opened an exhibition of 43 of the 120 repatriated objects at the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos, titled Return of the lost treasure. Among the priceless objects exhibited was the controversial Opa (Okukor) bronze cockerel statue, one of the Benin bronzes mounted in Jesus College’s dining hall of Cambridge University College, London. Last year March, the college authority removed the statue following students’ outcry calling for it to be repatriated to Nigeria.

    Other objects are Oba Esigie’s ivory pendant, plaque of Oba Ozolua Nibaromi Eko, Iyoba Idia N’Iyesigie in war dress, plaque of Oba Ohen, Benin bronze figure, terra cotta heads and figures, bronze head of an Oba, Ogiso Igodomigodo bronze figure and many others.

    Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed said as part of the ongoing process of preventing the pillage of the nation’s cultural objects, the Federal Government was planning to establish a special unit in the Nigeria Police charged with the responsibility of protecting the priceless objects. He disclosed that he would be discussing with the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to work out plans on the formation of the special unit. He noted that in Italy, an entire division of the country’s army is dedicated to the protection of artefacts.

    Mohammed, who spoke on Thursday, at the opening of the Return of the lost treasure exhibition stated that whistle-blowing was not limited to financial crime or corruption but to everything, including the looting or stealing of the nation’s treasures. The exhibition featured 43 of the over 120 objects worth millions of dollars recently repatriated from Europe.

    According to the minister, “culture is as important as petroleum, and even more important than petroleum because when petroleum dries up, culture would remain.”

    He, however, lamented the long-sitting negative perception about culture, which, he said, must change. He observed that the two religions (Islam and Christianity) did a lot to de-market cultural objects, which was very unfortunate.

    “It is a great concern that this trade is booming in Africa and in particular Nigeria. We shall through a determined effort continue to fight against the illicit trafficking in cultural property. This is a great challenge to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments to more than double its efforts now in checking this illicit trade in cultural property.  It is my wish that the NCMM will begin to look at means and opportunities to re-invigorate its export and clearance permits operations and devise other methods of checking the illicit trafficking in cultural property.

    “This is a clear warning to the NCMM, the Nigerian Custom Service and other law enforcement agencies to be more vigilant, especially at our sea ports, airports as well as land crossing areas, to check these abuses and illicit trade,” he added.

    Mohammed reassured that Nigeria would continue to  examine how it can fully domesticate the provisions of UNESCO 1970 Convention on the means of prohibiting and preventing the illicit import, export and transfer of cultural property, which was ratified by Nigeria on January 24 1972.

    Director-General NCMM, Yusuf Abdallah Usman, recalled that over the years, efforts at repatriating the looted objects had not yielded much result due to the complex nature of the issues involved. He stated that few years ago, the commission evaluated its approach and came up with a new strategy that is more pragmatic, reconciliatory and collaborative in line with the foreign policy pursuit of the government. He, therefore, called on museums and other public institutions around the globe illegally holding on to Nigerian antiquities to toe the path of honour and hand them over to the commission.

    Earlier at a discussion session on Illicit trafficking in cultural properties, retired Professor of Law and expert in intellectual property, Prof Folarin Shyllon, traced the plundering of nations’ treasures to the days when the Romans returned from the battle field parading the streets of Rome with items plundered in conquered territories. Also, in 1815 during the reign of Napoleon, France was compelled to return various objects plundered to the various countries of origin.

    “In the fight against illicit trafficking in cultural properties, it is important for countries to have effective agencies that can stop the exportation of the nations’ cultural objects.  They are Police, Custom and Immigration. There is also the Interpol, which has an excellent database of stolen objects. Some countries in order to fight illegal trafficking in cultural objects have special units in their police force to combat illicit trafficking. For example, the Italians have a special unit to forestall illicit export of cultural properties. France, Egypt and Turkey have such units,” he said.

    The professor of law urged Nigeria to have adequate inventory of its cultural objects as well as domesticate all the international conventions because in case of litigations abroad,  lawyers will ask if the nation has adopted the conventions into national laws.

    Prof Jean Borgatti, Fulbright, scholar and African art historian from the University of Benin, Benin City, decried the lack of interest by many Nigerian art students in traditional art. According to her, many of the students think traditional art is fetish, thereby neglecting the socio-economic and aesthetic values of traditional art. “They tend to be attracted to modern art at the detriment of their heritage. It is, therefore, important to train the art students adequately on the values of traditional art, the difference between original and replica objects,” she said.

    Cultural Attache French Embassy, Lagos, Monsieur Pierre Cherruou, said French government is always ready to support the fight for the repatriation of looted artfefacts, adding that 15 years ago, it was difficult to find Nok terra cotta in many Nigerian museums but easy to get in neighbouring countries like Togo and Benin museums.

    “Now, the situation has changed a lot because there are database as it is becoming more and more difficult to trade in it. French government is very optimistic that in near future more Nigerian artefacts will be repatriated,” he added.

  • Itsekiri leaders donate artefacts to NCMM

    The Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILoT) has formally handed over some historical artefacts and books relating to Nanna Olomu to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) in Abuja for the conservation and promotion of the country’s heritage.

    The leaders showered praises  on Nanna Olomu, who was the last Governor of the Benin River (Itsekiri Country), described him as a true symbol of African resistance against British imperialism.

    The artefacts, procured from a London Museum and donated by ILoT Chairman, Mr Johnson Ayomike, related to the Famous Nanna Olomu, as the great merchant of the Niger Delta, the last Governor of the Benin River (Itsekiri Country). According to the group, Nanna vehemently resisted British Imperialism and the military expedition which was carried out by the British on Ebrohimi, his hometown in 1894, which is in the present day Delta State.

    Nanna Olomu they say, later surrendered in Lagos, was tried and found guilty in their Kangaroo Court of Enquiry in Calabar and sent on exile to Accra, Ghana in 1890s. He was allowed to return to Nigeria in 1906, ten years later, Nanna died peacefully in Koko on the 3rd of July 1916.

    To commemorate the 100 years of the death of Nanna Olomu, Ayomike in collaboration with ILoT prepared some historical artefacts; Two large framed photographs of; (a) Nanna Palatial Residence; out-house and Stores in Ebrohimi before the expedition of 1894, and (b) four British Warships booming canon-fire on Ebrohimi (air Filled with heavy smoke) about a week before the fall of Ebrohimi.

    Copies of books relating to Nanna Olomu, and other historical books on Warri and ethnography in the Niger Delta Region were also presented.

    Presenting the items to the Director General of NCMM on behalf of Ayomike, in Abuja, the Secretary of ILoT, Bar. Edward Ekpoko described Nanna Olomu as a true symbol of African resistance to British Imperialism imposed on the African continent.

    He reminded the NCMM Boss, the role of Ayomike in the establishment of the Nanna Living History Museum in Koko similar to the Mandela House in South Africa, adding that “he (Ayomike) also donated other nanna artiffacts to the University of Benin in 1988. This is also in further pursuit of Mr Ayomike’s position that knowledge of history brings a feeling that we are part of a fellowship that runs through the ages from long before our birth to long after our death.”

     

    Quoting Awake Magazine “To live without history is to live without a form of memory. Without history you, your family, your tribe or even your nation would seem to be without roots, without a past.”

     

    Responding, NCMM Boss, Mallam Yusuf Usman said the presentation would help the government to ensure proper conservation and promotion of the country’s heritage. He emphasised the need for the private sector partnership in the preservation of the museum, calling for ethical rebirth among Nigerians to appreciate the country’s past.

     

    Usman noted that the artefacts presented would be placed in National Museum to further expose the heroic deeds of Nanna Olomu to the younger generation to promote African culture with aim of improving the country’s economy.

     

    “We hope to receive the similar support from other Nigerians to be able to adequately promote our culture with the aim of improving our economy,” said the DG.

     

  • Walker and the restitution of two Benin bronze (II)

    Walker and the restitution of two Benin bronze (II)

    Dr Peju Layiwola recalls the historic return of the stolen Benin bronze.

    The unending debates over Benin looted treasures have thrown up obnoxious theories emanating from the West. Kwame Opoku, a lawyer, known as one of the most vocal advocates for the return of stolen objects to countries of origin, has consistently responded to some of these theories. The proponents of a shared and universal heritage, acquiesce to the keeping of illegally acquired works in foreign so-called ‘encyclopedic’ or ‘universal’ museums. Their claim is to keep the art of the world in trust for mankind- a view popular among directors and curators of these universal museums. It is important to note that these Universal museums are all located in the Western world. Benson Osadolor, a History lecturer at the University of Benin describes them as the ‘Museums of Loot’ following the ‘Declaration on the Importance and Value of Universal Museums’ signed in 2002.   This concept has become very popular amongst curators of western museums and help propagate and legitimise the continued keeping of looted works. To better appreciate the brazenness of this argument, it is important to quote excerpts from the declaration.

    “Whether (acquired) by purchase, gift or partage- (the artefacts) have become part of the museums that have cared for them, and by extension part of the heritage of the nations which house them.”

    In other words, since the Benin objects were first looted and then sold to collectors, the buyers of these looted objects now have the right to own them because they have so ‘graciously’ cared for them. Being able to pay for them gives a buyer of stolen objects the right to own them. Additionally, the nations which have acquired these objects or house buyers or museums with illegally acquired objects are now by this declaration free to assimilate the objects as part of their national heritage. It has been noted that almost all the signatory museums to this preposterous declaration belong to the nation states that signed the final document of the 1884/1885 Berlin Africa Conference. On the other hand, there are those who argue for works to be retained within their national jurisdictions. They are often referred to as nationalist retentionists. The British government has been constantly reminded of its need to return looted objects. Nigeria and Greece have been consistently demanding for the return of their objects housed in the British Museum. The Greek’s demand for the Elgin marbles has gone on for a long time, the same way the Benin monarchy have been on the case for the return of their heirloom.

    In support of the nationalist retentionist’s position, Walker clearly states: ‘I believe the international community is guilty of double standards with regards to such artifacts. When for example at the end of Second World War came, looted works of art were discovered in Nazi home, we went through a great deal of trouble to return them to the families from which they had come. I cannot understand what the difference is between Nazi and looted objects of Benin… If you ask the British Museum, they would say ‘well, they are only custodians’. If you ask (British) politicians they say ‘it is the business of the British Museum’. So, we go round in a circle. We need to persuade not just the British public, but the international community that it is unethical and immoral to be holding on to items which were not legally acquired. To this end I think, this event is important particularly if it achieves publicity not just here but also in Britain. I am confident that within another generation we should see a lot more of these objects returned to Benin.

    While this return has come out of a private collection in the UK, it is pertinent to add that several thousands of looted Benin works still remain in public museums in the UK, Germany and the US. Soon after the invasion of Benin, the works were first collected in the courtyard of the king from where they were later shipped to Britain.   On arrival in London, the Admiralty auctioned them. Later in 1897, the British Museum exhibited well over bronze plaques loaned from the Foreign Office. Charles Read the curator of the British Museum at the time facilitated the auction of the pieces, which got into several British, and other foreign private and public collections.   Today, a large number of looted Benin works can be seen in the galleries of the British Museum as well as many other museums across Europe and America.   Ever since, there has been no return made to Nigeria from the British Museum despite several requests from Nigeria for the objects in their kitty. In 1977, the British government turned down the request made by the Nigerian Government to loan the popular Queen Idia mask stolen from the bedchamber of the king which later became the symbol of the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC ‘77) in Lagos. This mask along with four other similar pectoral masks can be found in the Linden Museum, Stuttgart, The Metropolitan and Seattle Museums in the US and the most popular one at the British Museum. The fifth mask in a private collection surfaced at the Sotheby auction in 2010. After the 1977 request came another, this time on the occasion of the 30th anniversary commemoration of FESTAC. In February, 2007 Professor Tunde Babawale, Director of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) made a fresh request to the British Museum for the mask. The Director of the British Museum, Neil Mcgregor, glossed over his request, replying that the British Museum had been invited by the NCMM to offer assistance and advice on the development of the Lagos Museum. In the 1950s the British Museum sold a number of Benin art objects to Nigeria. These were purchased to beef up the collection in the newly founded museums.

    Several attempts at retrieving Nigeria’s stolen art objects have been carried out over the years. Bernie Grant, an MP in the British House of Commons, made a request to the Director of the Art Gallery and Museums in Glasgow in 1997. As a follow up to this letter, Emmanuel Arinze, Chairman, West African Museums also wrote letters of request for Benin objects. By 2000, Prince Edun Akenzua, the Enogie (Duke) of Obazuwa and brother of the Oba (king) of Benin gave testimony before the British House of Commons. In 2008, I had delivered a request letter from Prince Edun Akenzua to the Art Institute of Chicago. In all of these cases, there has been no response to mails. The lack of response has, however, not dissuaded people from reacting to this historical injustice. Fresh requests and responses occur as often as the issues of the looted artefacts resurface.

    One of such was the sale of Benin artefacts by Sotheby in 2001. A 16th century Benin ‘Oba’ mask was to be auctioned for about 4.5 million pounds sterling. The consignee was a descendant of Lieut. Col. Sir Henry Gallwey, Deputy Commissioner and Vice Consul in the Oil Rivers Protectorate in 1891, who took part in the infamous British Expedition. Protests organised by civil society groups and Nigerian intellectuals against this sale spread from the streets of London to social network sites. The consignee was forced to pull down the work from the auction. It is no longer business as usual to profiteer from the loot – a loot which was forcibly removed during a very bloody contest between British soldiers and Benin defenders. At another occasion, Nigerians living in Chicago protested in 2007 when news came that the Art Institute was selected as a venue of the travelling exhibition of Benin art titled Benin Kings and Rituals: Court Art from Nigeria. In 2013, the controversial donation of 32 Benin objects by the Lehman Brothers to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, USA and the Museum’s search for legitimacy from the Benin Royal family caused another stir.

    It is important to mention here that the British expeditionary soldiers had a field day picking some of these Benin objects as mementoes for themselves. Captain Egerton took for himself about half a dozen objects. Admiral Harry Rawson, the commander of the expedition and Sir Ralph Moor, the Consul General of the Niger Coast Protectorate, sent to Queen Victoria a pair of exquisitely carved leopards as well as two carved ivory tusks as gifts from the troupe. It was in this context that Captain Walker acquired his own pieces. While descendants of Sir Henry Gallwey have resorted to making money from the loot of their grandfather, Walker has decided to return to the original owners what his father himself described as ’loot’ in at least three entries in his diary. This act of honour is the reason Edo people came out in large numbers to show immense gratitude to a man who has followed the path of nobility and conscience. He has resisted the temptation of profiteering from works that were taken forcibly from a people who defended their kingdom with their lives. One can only hope that other individuals and descendants of British soldiers and particularly, foreign museums and institutions keeping Benin works would return them and in good time too.

  • Expert tasks Fed Govt on preservation of artefacts

    A consultant with the Centre for Environmental Renewable, Natural Research,Management, Regional and Development (CEMRAD), Dr  Olajide Oladipo, has called on the Federal Government to preserve the nation’s artefacts.

    Speaking at the World Museum Day Ceremony at the National Museum of Unity, Ibadan, Oladipo said preservation was the only way to prevent the artefacts from going into extinction.

    “The Federal Government should collaborate with Non-Governmental Organisations to preserve the nation’s artefacts from facing extinction,” he said.

    Oladipo said the need to preserve the artefacts  became imperative in order to allow future generations  to have access to them.

    He also called for the  setting up of  urban museums where historians, researchers, students and heritage followers could go for knowledge acquisition.

    Oladipo also called for tree planting to boost colouring, saying “the nation cannot continue to rely on artificial colouring.”

    “A lot of children can take advantage of the trees to get colouring for their painting works In view of this fact, it is good not to abandon planted trees,” he said.

    Also, Mr Bode Adesina, the Curator of the museum, said Nigeria celebrated the  Day to enable people to reflect on the  benefits  of  museum.

    “Nigeria is joining the rest of the world to mark the Day in order to tap the benefits of museum and draw the attention of the public to it,” he said.

    He called on Nigerians to cash in on the theme of the event, “Memory and Creativity, ’’ saying this would help change the fortunes of museums.

    Present at the forum were stakeholders involved  in artefact and heritage development and preservation.

  • Meeting on stolen artefacts ends without hope

    A meeting between Nigeria and representatives of five European museums on stolen artefacts from the Benin Kingdom ended without an agreement on when the objects would be returned.

    No British representative was present at the meeting. But it was learnt that she may have missed her flight

    Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation Edem Duke on Tuesday told the European representatives that the Federal Government needs the stolen Benin bronzes to promote the nation’s rich cultural history.

    Professor Emeritus and Consultant to National Museums and Monuments Prof. Folarin Shyllon told reporters at a briefing that opting for legal action to retrieve the artefacts was a complicated matter for Nigeria.

    He explained that Nigeria, being a signatory to the United Nations Economic and Social Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO’s) 1970 and 1995 Conventions, could only employ mediation and negotiation through UNESCO’s Inter-Conventional Committee.

    In a communiqué at the end of the meeting, the museum experts agreed to develop a data bank on Benin art collections in form of a digital archive of electronic and hard copies.

    It said all collaborating institutions shall have the right to produce free of charge photographs of Benin art objects.

    NCMM Director-General Yusuf Usman said the meetings have helped to discover where Benin objects were kept all over the world.

    Dr. Peter Juuge of Ethnological Museum, Berlin, Germany, assured that Benin objects would be in Nigeria for public display in the future.

  • Aregbesola seeks preservation of Yoruba artefacts

    Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday called on South West governors to preserve the Yoruba cultural and traditional artefacts.

    He spoke during a sympathetic visit to the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, on the fire outbreak that ravaged his palace last week.

    Aregbesola said Alaafin should call all Yoruba leaders to a meeting with a view to mapping out strategies on how to construct a fireproof structure around the ancient artefacts.

    The governor, who described the incident as sad and shocking, said efforts should be made to ensure that none of them should be exposed to destruction by any circumstance.

    He described the ancient Alaafin palace as the emblem of the Yoruba race and Alaafin the custodian of Yoruba culture, tradition and artefacts.

    The governor added that if the Yorubas should showcase half of their artefacts to the world, the race would be celebrated as one of the forerunners of the world civilisations.

    He said: “It is a very sad incident. The stable of Alaafin should not get burnt, let alone the palace where every object has connection to Yoruba history.

    “Well-meaning Yoruba people must come together to do whatever is necessary to forestall similar occurrence. It is high time for Yorubas to protect the symbols of our cultural heritage.”