CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY HANDS BACK 116 BENIN ARTEFACTS TO NIGERIA

By: Abdul-Qoyyum Adeshola, Badmus.

Date: Monday, 9th February, 2026 (21st Sha’ban, 1447 AH).

CAMBRIDGE University in the UK has formally transferred ownership of 116 Benin artefacts from its Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (MAA) to Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM).

The move, described by the university as “an important step in addressing colonial-era cultural losses,” follows a formal request by the NCMM in January 2022. The request sought the return of items taken during the 1897 British expedition against Benin City.

The artefacts, mostly brass, along with ivory and wooden carvings, were seized during the punitive military campaign of February 1897.

“These objects are not just artefacts; they carry history and identity,” said NCMM Director-General Olugbile Holloway.

Most of the items will be returned to Nigeria in the coming months. A few will remain in Cambridge on loan for research and public display. Cambridge noted that the decision aligns with global efforts by museums in the UK, Europe, and the US to return Benin artefacts.

Prof. Nicholas Thomas, Director of MAA, said: “This return reflects years of collaboration with Nigerian colleagues, the Royal Court, and scholars. It has been heartening to see growing international support for repatriation of cultural items taken during colonial times.”

The museum has maintained long-term engagement with Nigerian stakeholders, hosting the Benin Dialogue Group in 2017 and welcoming delegations from NCMM and the Royal Court in 2021. Curators have also visited Benin City since 2018 to meet the Oba and other officials.

Holloway added: “This is a historic moment. It restores pride and dignity that was lost when these artefacts were removed. We hope other museums will follow Cambridge’s lead.”

The NCMM, under Nigeria’s Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, manages 53 museums, 65 national monuments, and two World Heritage Sites.

MAA, founded in 1884, is one of Cambridge University’s oldest museums, holding collections spanning global archaeology, cultural history, and Indigenous art.