2023-05-07 17:09:00
“Return of bronzes to Nigeria was unconditional”
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens)
Source: Getty Images/Jens Schlueter
A few months after their ceremonial return to Nigeria, the Benin bronzes made the headlines again – instead of being exhibited publicly, they were handed over to private owners. Berlin thinks that’s fine: the return was unconditional.
Dhe Federal Foreign Office sees responsibility for the Benin bronzes after their return to Nigeria in the African country. “Who will keep the returned bronzes, which Nigerian institutions and people will be involved, and who is responsible for preserving them and making them accessible are questions that will be decided in Nigeria,” the Foreign Ministry in Berlin said on Sunday. “There were no strings attached to the return of the bronzes to Nigeria.”
A spokesman for Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth agreed with the Federal Foreign Office: “It remains correct to return looted art to the states that today represent the people and culture from which this art was once stolen,” the dpa said. Together with the Federal Foreign Office, it should be clarified what the measure by the outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari means. “We want to talk to the new Nigerian government as soon as it takes office.” An important basis for the negotiations is the responsibility of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments for the restitution process.
Earlier it became known that the outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari had transferred the valuable bronzes to the Oba as head of the Kingdom of Benin. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth (both Green) initially returned 20 valuable Benin bronzes at the end of 2022. More than 1,100 of the works from the palace of the former Kingdom of Benin, which today belongs to Nigeria, have so far been found in around 20 German museums. The objects, which are made of ivory and other materials in addition to bronze, come largely from British looting in 1897.
“We are in contact with the Nigerian government about the Benin bronzes and are in contact with them on all questions relating to this topic,” the Foreign Office said. “The bronzes were returned to Nigeria with the aim of correcting historical injustices in the acquisition and unlawful possession of the artifacts.” will have Benin bronzes. “We continue to wish the bronzes to be exhibited.”
The involvement of the royal family in the return process corresponds to the requirements for the participation of the communities of origin. “The National Museums Commission of Nigeria, which is the contractual partner of the German museums for returns, informed us that the presidential decree has not yet come into force and that amendments have been tabled.”
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