The artefacts, looted in 1897, will be formally handed over on 21 June at Lagos’ National Museum.
The Netherlands has returned 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, marking the largest repatriation of the stolen artefacts to date. The official handover ceremony is set for 21 June at the National Museum in Lagos, with representatives from both countries in attendance.
British colonial troops looted the artefacts in 1897 during a violent expedition against the Kingdom of Benin. Most pieces were part of the Dutch State Collection and displayed at the Wereldmuseum in Leiden. Four items will remain there on loan.
“The symbolism of this occasion cannot be overemphasised and what it means for the pride and dignity of not just the Benin people, but the whole of Nigeria,” said Olugbile Holloway, Director-General of Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments.
Dutch cultural envoy Dewi van de Weerd added, “We hope that this restitution is not the final chapter, but the foundation for further cooperation between Dutch and Nigerian museums.”
The Nigerian government has not yet announced permanent display plans for the artefacts.