Follow Us on Google
From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The Palace of the Oba of Benin is expected to be agog today as all is set to receive a Benin bronze cockerel named Okukor stolen from the Palace during British invasion of Benin in 1897 when thousands of other bronzes and artefacts were looted by British forces.
Two other artefacts looted from from the Palace were similarly returned to Oba Erediauwa in 2014 the by the grandchildren of British Soldiers whose parents took part in the looting of 1897.
Recall that the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, had revealed last week Wednesday that Cambridge University in the United Kingdom which his father, Oba Erediauwa attended, would soon return some artefacts from Benin in its custody.
The Oba disclosed this while playing host to Chairman of DAAR Communication Ltd, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, who visited him (the Oba) as part of activities to mark his 70th birthday.
The bronze cockerel was looted by British colonialists from the palace of the Oba and was given to Jesus College, a college of Cambridge in 1905 by the father of a student.
According to reports, Cambridge University handed over the statue of the cockerel to a delegation from Nigeria, led by Professor Abba Issa Tijani from Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments in a ceremony that took place at Jesus College.
Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments received the Benin bronze from Jesus College on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Royal Court of Benin.
A decision for it to be returned was said to have been made in 2019 after students campaigned, following which the statue was removed from display at the college in 2016.
The return of Okukor, described by the college as a “royal ancestral heirloom” is expected to spark a wave of repatriation ceremonies, as the cultural world continues to reckon with concerns over the ethics of plundered historical artefacts.
According to Sonita Alleyne, master of Jesus College, returning the artefact was the “right thing to do” and that the bronze piece was of “cultural and spiritual significance to the people of Nigeria.
“It’s massively significant. It’s a momentous occasion. It’s part of their ancestral heritage,” Ms Alleyne added.
Meanwhile, the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II had expressed excitement at the return of the bronze.
The Oba thanked the student body of Cambridge for “bringing to light the historical significance of this revered piece of the royal court of Benin”.
“We are indeed very pleased and commend Jesus College for taking this lead in making restitution for the plunder that occurred in Benin in 1897.
“We truly hope that others will expedite the return of our artworks which in many cases are of religious importance to us,” he said.
TNG reports after Jesus College announced its decision to return the bronze in November 2019, a host of regional museums committed to or said they were also considering returning artefacts.
The UK retains hundreds of Benin bronzes – plaques and sculptures dating to the 13th century, made by artisans from the Edo culture.
They were distributed from private collections and in some cases donated by soldiers who took part in the 1897 looting.
Historically, much of the focus has been on the British Museum, which holds 900 objects – the largest collection in the world.
