🇳🇬 Divine Restoration: Netherlands Returns 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria
📰 BoomNews 24 | Cultural Heritage
EDO STATE, JUNE 20, 2025 —
History was made yesterday as 119 Benin Bronzes—precious artifacts looted over a century ago during colonial invasions—were officially returned to Nigeria by the Netherlands, in what is now the largest single restitution of its kind.
The handover ceremony held in Benin City, Edo State, was filled with emotion, royalty, and cultural pride. Oba Ewuare II, the revered monarch of the Benin Kingdom, described the historic moment as nothing short of a “divine intervention”.
“These bronzes are not just art pieces; they are our ancestors, our identity, our soul. Their return is the return of our dignity,” the Oba declared, his voice echoing the sentiments of millions of Nigerians.
The artefacts, which include royal plaques, statues, and ceremonial objects, were originally looted during the 1897 British invasion of the Benin Kingdom and later ended up in various European museums, including those in the Netherlands.
This move marks a powerful shift in global attitudes toward colonial restitution and sets a precedent for other nations still holding African heritage objects.
BoomNews 24 will continue to follow the trail of restitution, repatriation, and the rising global call for cultural justice.
🖋 By BoomNews 24 Cultural Desk
📍 Edo State, Nigeria
📅 June 20, 2025
