Prince Edun Akenzua (L) speaks with retired hospital consultant Mark
Walker (R) holding two bronze artefacts he returned to the Benin kingdom
during a ceremony in Nigeria, on June 20, 2014. For more than a
century, the artefacts from the "Benin Bronzes" collection had been in
the family of retired medical consultant Mark Walker, whose grandfather
was involved in a 1897 British raid in which they were taken. AFP/PHOTO
In Summary
- The statues -- depicting a fabled
ibis bird and the traditional monarch's bell -- were given back to the
Oba (King) of Benin, Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa I, at a ceremony attended
by royal officials and local dignitaries.
- The tale of the
precious artefacts is one of intrique and tragedy. It began when nine
British officers were killed while on a trade mission to Erediauwa's
grandfather, ruler of the then independent kingdom of Benin.
- Most
of the ornate bronzes -- in fact melted down and refashioned brass from
bracelets and other objects offered by Portuguese traders in the 15th
century -- have been at the British Museum in London ever since.
- They
include a 19th century depiction of the head of the oba, who has divine
status for the Edo people, and 16th century plaques taken from the
walls of the royal palace, showing court life.
BENIN CITY,
Two
statues from among thousands of works of art looted by British soldiers
in the 19th century have been returned to Nigeria, prompting calls for
other "stolen" treasures to be repatriated.
For more
than a century, the artefacts from the "Benin Bronzes" collection had
been in the family of retired medical consultant Mark Walker, whose
grandfather was involved in a 1897 British raid in which they were
taken.
But on Friday, the statues -- depicting a fabled
ibis bird and the traditional monarch's bell -- were given back to the
Oba (King) of Benin, Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa I, at a ceremony attended
by royal officials and local dignitaries.
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