University of Cambridge returns 116 Benin artefacts to Nigeria in historic repatriation

The University of Cambridge has officially transferred legal ownership of 116 Benin artefacts from its Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (MAA) collections to Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), under a management agreement with the Benin Royal Palace.

The announcement was made in a joint statement by Jessica Keating of Cambridge University and Dapo Sijuade of NCMM.

The decision follows a formal request by the NCMM in January 2022 for the return of artefacts looted during the 1897 British punitive expedition that sacked Benin City.

The university council approved the claim, and the UK Charity Commission subsequently authorised the transfer. While most of the artefacts will be physically returned to Nigeria in due course, a small number will remain on loan at MAA for display, study, and research purposes.

“The 116 objects, primarily brass with some ivory and wooden sculptures, were taken when British forces invaded Benin City in February 1897 following a trade dispute,” the statement noted.

Over the past decade, MAA curators have actively engaged with Nigerian stakeholders, the Royal Court of Benin, artists, and academics.

Study visits to Benin City have been conducted since 2018, and representatives from NCMM and the Royal Court have visited Cambridge in 2021. The museum also hosted the Benin Dialogue Group in 2017, reflecting sustained collaboration on the repatriation process.

Director-General of NCMM, Olugbile Holloway, described the transfer as a landmark moment.

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“The return of cultural items is not just the return of the physical object, but also the restoration of the pride and dignity lost when these objects were taken. We thank the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, for her support, and we applaud Cambridge for taking this step,” Holloway said.

Professor Nicholas Thomas, Director of MAA, added, “Engaging in dialogue with Nigerian colleagues, the Royal Court, scholars, and artists over the past 10 years has been immensely rewarding. Support has grown nationally and internationally for the repatriation of artefacts taken during colonial violence. This return has strong backing across the university community.”

Experts say the repatriation could set a precedent for other museums holding artefacts taken during the colonial era. Cultural historian Dr. Chika Okeke-Agulu remarked, “This is a historic step for global heritage restitution. Returning these artefacts is about justice, cultural restoration, and acknowledging the enduring impact of colonial plunder on Nigeria’s cultural heritage.”

The repatriation of the Benin artefacts represents a major milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to reclaim its cultural patrimony, and signals a broader shift among European and US institutions toward restorative action in heritage management.