US MUSEUM REPATRIATES TWO ANCIENT ARTIFACTS TO BENIN KINGDOM
Read Time:1 Minute, 22 Second
The Stanley Museum of Art, University of IOWA, in the United States of America, has returned two artifacts to the Benin Monarch, Omo N’oba N’edo Uku Akpolokpolo Ewuare II.
The objects—one wooden carved mother hen and a brass plaque—were among the thousands of artefacts looted from the palace of the Oba of Benin during the 1897 Benin massacre, which eventually found their way to the Stanley Museum of Art.
The curator of African art at the Stanley Museum of Art, University of IOWA, Cory Gundlach, who returned the two artefacts, admitted the university’s use of the objects in the teaching of Benin history without the permission of the Oba/Palace and apologized on behalf of the museum.
Gundlach was accompanied by a Special Adviser to the Benin monarch and Mellon curatorial fellow, Stanley Museum of Art, Peju Layiwola, who is also a member of the royal family.
The Oba thanked Gundlach, the museum, all who contributed to facilitating the restitution efforts, and those present to witness the handover, and hoped other museums in the United States emulate the Stanley Museum of Art, and return the looted artefacts to their possession.
He explained that the returned artefacts are worth a million times more than they seem, as they are highly significant.
Gundlach, in the letter he read before the Oba, noted, among other points, that this is the first time looted artifacts are coming from the United States straight to the Palace of the Oba of Benin, assuring the palace that the return of other looted artifacts would follow.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0