Switzerland Returns 18 Looted Benin Artefacts To Oba Ewuare II After 125 Years

The Swiss Government has returned 18 Benin artefacts looted during the 1897 British invasion of the Benin Kingdom, marking another milestone in the global campaign to repatriate Nigeria's stolen cultural heritage.

The priceless artefacts, which had remained in Switzerland for about 125 years, were formally handed over to the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, during a ceremony at the Benin Royal Palace in Benin City.

Among the items returned is an ancestral head of a former Oba of Benin, one of the royal objects taken during the infamous 1897 punitive expedition by British colonial forces that led to the looting of thousands of Benin cultural treasures now scattered across museums and private collections worldwide.

Presenting the artefacts, Switzerland's Consul-General in Nigeria, Conny Camenzind, described the restitution as a symbol of stronger cooperation between Switzerland and Nigeria and expressed hope that it would strengthen future cultural relations between both countries.

Receiving the artefacts, Oba Ewuare II said the returned objects represent far more than museum exhibits, stressing that they embody the history, governance, spirituality and artistic excellence of the Benin Kingdom.

"The Benin Bronzes are not curiosities. They are records of governance, spirituality and the artistry of the Edo people taken by force. To delay their return is to continue dispossession by other means," the monarch said.

The Oba expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, the Swiss Government and the National Commission for Museums and Monuments for their roles in securing the return of the cultural treasures.

He disclosed that since ascending the throne, the Benin Royal Court has recovered more than 150 original Benin artefacts looted during the colonial invasion.

The monarch also renewed his appeal to the German government to fulfil the 2022 agreement reached with Nigeria by returning more than 1,000 Benin artworks still in its possession and concluding arrangements for their transfer.

He further urged museums and institutions across Europe and other parts of the world holding Benin artefacts to address what he described as a longstanding colonial injustice by returning the stolen objects to their rightful owners.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Olugbile Holloway, commended the Swiss authorities for their openness and cooperation throughout the restitution process.

According to Holloway, the Swiss Government handled the repatriation with transparency and remained committed to ensuring the artefacts were returned to their rightful custodians.

"Today, we have brought a total of 18 objects. As we promised, we remain committed to this process because the issue of ownership has long been settled," he said.

The latest repatriation adds to growing international efforts to return the Benin Bronzes and other cultural artefacts looted during the 1897 invasion, a campaign that has gained significant momentum in recent years as museums and governments increasingly acknowledge the need to correct historical injustices.