Wrangling within Nigeria’s Edo State government is putting the immediate prospects of western museums returning looted Benin Bronzes at risk.

The role of the Legacy Restoration Trust (LRT), an independent, not-for-profit Nigerian organisation, whose flagship project is the creation of a new Edo Museum of West African Art (EMOWAA), has been denounced by the present head of the Benin royal family. Speaking at an emergency meeting convened earlier this month in the Edo capital Benin City, Oba Ewuare II reasserted Benin Kingdom’s right of ownership over the Bronzes, emphasising that “attempts to divert the destination or the right of custody of the artefacts is not in the interest of the people of Benin Kingdom”. 

Thousands of metal and ivory objects, collectively known as Benin Bronzes, were plundered from the West African kingdom of Benin City by a British military force in February 1897. “They are not the property of the state government or any private corporate entity that is not a creation of the Benin Kingdom,” insists the Oba, the great-great grandson of the king removed from power when Benin City was sacked. In his address to the meeting, Oba Ewuare gave western museums cause for alarm by claiming that any group, organisation or government, national or international, dealing with the return of looted artefacts with any “artificial group” other than Benin Kingdom would be doing so “at their own risk and against the will of the people of the Benin Kingdom”.

The Oba, together with hundreds of his supporters who attended the meeting, want the Bronzes returned to the Oba’s own Benin Royal Museum, not to the EMOWAA. To enable him to finance the creation of a secure, modern museum within his Palace grounds and to administer the return of the Bronzes, a foundation has been registered in his name, Oba Ewuare II Foundation.  He is claiming the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, plus other leading stakeholders, including the Benin Dialogue Group, have all supported this initiative. However, now they've transferred their support to the project masterminded by the LRT, the Oba has asked Nigeria’s Federal Government to take custody of all Benin artefacts due to return - until such time as the Benin Royal Museum is ready to receive them.

This dispute couldn’t have come at a worse time. With a growing number of European, North American and British regional collections announcing their willingness to start returning stolen Benin artefacts, where should they be returned? If Nigeria cannot agree where the Bronzes should be exhibited, will their future security be jeopardised? During the 1980s and 1990s, thefts of artefacts from Nigeria’s museums were widespread and a repetition of those events would be a catastrophic indictment of Nigerian ability to secure its own national heritage. Opponents of restitution have always been quick to highlight 'inadequate security' as a reason why looted objects should not be returned to their country of origin.  If this wrangling continues, there's every chance it may confirm such fears.

However, there’s also a possibility that the Oba’s intervention has come too late. The critical support of Governor Obaseki has been put behind the work of the Legacy Restoration Trust. They in turn have already secured financial and bilateral support from individual members of the Benin Dialogue Group, including the British Museum. This support alone is worth many millions of pounds.

Experienced West African commentators have drawn attention to the rivalry being played out between the Oba and Governor Obaseki, where a clash of egos and the chase for money, whether for construction or for personal gain, could be fuelling this dispute.  It's also difficult to understand why the Oba has reacted so negatively to the LRT initiative, just as it begins to garner significant international support and is more likely than his own initiative to deliver the return of the Bronzes.

One thing is clear. For as long as these divisions remain unresolved, the possibility of unconditional returns of Benin Bronzes by western museums appears unlikely.  Even those collections that have committed to return looted artefacts will be concerned about the future stability of where their objects are returned. Interviewed for the BBC, Aberdeen University's Head of Museums and Special Collections, Neil Curtis, said he would be "very uncomfortable" if their "unconditional" return of a Benin Bronze head took place without the agreement of all parties in Nigeria. Confidence in the role played by the Legacy Restoration Trust is also at risk of becoming seriously dented. Edo State needs to act decisively to ensure this problem doesn't spiral out of control.

Photo: Oba Ewuare II and Governor Obaseki

Courtesy of the nationonlineng.net