Restitution of the Benin Bronzes: Voices in a Debate

Artworks from the historic Benin Kingdom in Berlin

The Ethnologisches Museum Berlin used to hold hundreds of so-called Benin Bronzes – works of art from a period spanning around three centuries that were looted in the course of colonialism and brought to Europe. With the transfer of ownership to Nigeria in 2022, a restitution process has begun, and some works have already been handed over to the Nigerian government.

Bringing the debate into the museum space

The processes outlined above took place at the governmental level between Germany and Nigeria. Going beyond the scope of official negotiations, a video installation presents different voices that provide insight into the complexity and diversity of the debate. Scholars, artists, and representatives of German and Nigerian museums as well as the royal house in Benin City present their views: their different perspectives shed light on the significance of the Benin Bronzes and the current debate on their restitution with an eye for the future.

The statements were recorded in Nigeria and Germany in 2022 and 2025, and represent snapshots of the dynamic developments. They illustrate different attitudes and raise central questions: Who will be the recipient of Benin’s cultural heritage? How is history remembered? Where and how should the Benin Bronzes be displayed in the future, and how will German and Nigerian partners work together in the future?