US museum returns two artefacts to Benin Kingdom

The Benin Monarch, Omo N’oba N’edo Uku Akpolokpolo Ewuare II, has received prestigious artefacts from the Stanley Museum of Art, University of IOWA in the United States of America.

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, 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 apologised 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 in their possession.

He explained that the returned artefacts are worth a million times more than they seem as they are highly significant.

Gundlach had in the letter he read before the Oba, noted among other points, that this is the first time looted artefacts, are coming from the United States straight to the Palace of the Oba of Benin, assuring the palace, that the return of other looted artefacts from the would follow.

Proofreading by Uchechi Ojo, Sub-editor at Neptune Prime.

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