The University of Cambridge has formally transferred ownership of 116 Benin artefacts from its Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (MAA) collections to Nigeria.

This was confirmed yesterday in a statement by the University of Cambridge in England. The artefacts were handed over to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), which manages them under an agreement with the Benin Royal Palace.

According to NCMM, the decision follows a formal request made in January 2022 for the return of artefacts looted by British forces during the sacking of Benin City in 1897.

The university’s council approved the claim, and authorisation from the United Kingdom (UK) Charity Commission was subsequently granted.
 
The physical transfer of most of the artefacts will be arranged in due course, while a small number will remain on loan and on display at Cambridge to remain accessible to museum visitors, students, and researchers.

The move aligns with similar commitments by museums in the UK, U.S., and Europe to return cultural heritage items to their countries of origin.

The 116 objects, primarily brass with some ivory and wooden sculptures, were taken during the British ‘Punitive Expedition’ of February 1897, which followed a violent trade dispute the previous month and resulted in the looting of the Benin Royal Palace.
 
Speaking on the development, the Director-General of NCMM, Olugbile Holloway, described the transfer as a pivotal moment in the ongoing collaboration between Nigeria and the University of Cambridge, highlighting the importance of restoring cultural heritage to its rightful custodians.
 
The return of the artefacts is expected to strengthen historical and cultural ties between Nigeria and the UK while providing opportunities for research, education, and public engagement in both countries.