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From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has received another stolen artefact from the Kingdom of the Netherlands as a gift to mark his 10th coronation anniversary.
Executive Director of Museum de Fundatie, Netherlands, Beatrice Von Bormann, presented the artefact in the presence of the Portuguese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Paulo Martins Santos.
She said she was happy to return the object that has been in the museum since 1937, adding that investigation traced production of the artefact to the 18th century.
Bormann, who disclosed that the artefact has travelled round the world, said it symbolised reincarnation and the Olokun deity.
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Receiving the artefact, Oba Ewuare II recalled how his forebears wanted to accept the Catholic faith as introduced by the Portuguese in the 15th century but that the people stood firmly by their traditional worship.
He said the Benin people have their spiritual portal to ascend communication to God.
“We have a very unique link with the Portuguese. When I was told that the Portuguese Ambassador was around, it was like telepathy, because I had been thinking already about Portugal,” the Oba said.
He said he was surprised to learn that the Vatican recognised African traditional religions.
