The Benin Bronzes’ Bungled Return
The delayed repatriation of the Benin Bronzes has evolved into an international test case for the return of treasures stolen during the colonial era. This fiasco could have been avoided had both parties paid attention to the warning signs and taken measures to prevent the process from being politicized.
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BERLIN – Until recently, the protracted saga of the Benin Bronzes’ repatriation appeared to be heading toward a satisfying conclusion. These sculptures and artifacts, looted by British soldiers in 1897 during a raid on the historic Kingdom of Benin (in what is now Nigeria’s southern state of Edo) and scattered across Europe and North America, were set to return to Nigeria. But their status is once again uncertain.