BENIN CITY: Nigeria’s government has handed over two bronze treasures to a traditional royal palace in part of a series of restorations of artefacts looted during colonial times.

In a ceremony accompanied by songs, drums and dancers on Saturday, a bronze cockerel and a king’s bust were given to King Uku Akpolokpolor Ewuare II, one of the traditional rulers in Africa’s most populous country.

Thousands of Nigeria’s Benin Bronzes — 16th to 18th century sculptures and art — were pillaged from the palace of the ancient Benin Kingdom and held in museums across the US and Europe.

Nigerian officials negotiated the return of the two objects held in Aberdeen and Cambridge and plan to build a museum in Benin City in southern Edo state, where it hopes to keep more bronzes.

“This return gives us a lot of joy because they symbolized that for us, the hope that all the stolen artifacts will be returned, “Charles Edosomwan, Benin Kingdom High Chief said.

“They’re stolen if they are with you, they are not with us, until you return them, you are in receipt of stolen goods.” The bronzes are considered some of the most highly regarded works of African art.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2022