The Benin Bronzes: Why Repatriation Matters
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- Опубліковано 17 вер 2024
- The Benin Bronzes, displayed in museums around the world, have been steeped in controversy for more than a century. We’re talking about thousands of treasures stolen from the Kingdom of Benin, in present-day Nigeria, by British troops during colonial times.
Since the 1930s, Africans have campaigned for these artworks to be returned. For decades, some of those Benin Bronzes were on display at Smithsonian’s National Museum for African Art, in Washington.
The Smithsonian has now joined European museums in repatriating some of the looted artifacts in their collections. Hayde Adams, host of Straight Talk Africa, visited the museum to find out if their repatriation could change the way African art is acquired and exhibited in future.
Originally published at - www.voaafrica....
I am author of the books: The Great Wall of Africa: The Empire of Benin’s 10,000 Mile Long Wall, The Real Wakandas of Africa and The Real Vibranium of Africa (by Maurice Miles Martinez). In the Great Wall of Africa, I discuss the Benin Bronzes and current issues around returning them from Museums. Most people are unaware that African people built a wall before transatlantic slavery in the Benin empire that is one of the most massive structures in the world. At 10,000 miles long, the Great Wall of Africa contains more material than all of the buildings in New York City’s Manhattan. If cut into 1 meter high blocks, it would wrap around the equator more than 65 times! It is arguably the planet’s greatest man-made structure. Yet, it has been ignored by historians. In my book The Great Wall of Africa: The Empire of Benin’s 10,000 Mile Long Wall, I explore the dimensions of the wall, the history of the Benin Empire’s Kings (Obas) and the stolen Benin Bronzes. These treasures that sit in the world’s museums amount to more than $14 Billion. Most people who read this book are left wondering why they never heard about the Great Wall of Africa in their history classes. The world needs more videos on this topic.
Maurice Miles Martinez
Reading the comments is quite funny. The Benin Empire (Edo People/ Tribe) in Nigeria 🇳🇬 is NOT the same as Republic of Benin 🇧🇯 (country) formerly known as The Kingdom of Dahomey, who were highly involved in the trans Atlantic slave trade. The Edo people 🇳🇬, have NO connection with Benin 🇧🇯 people ETHNICALLY and we were not involved in slave trade. The Portuguese were trading with the Edo people amicably long before the British showed up and this is well historically documented from both sides and in the museum. There are lots of Nigerian (Edo) historians, professors and UA-camrs who have books, documentaries and videos about what transpired. The Oba (king) of the Edo people was not involved in the trans Atlantic slave trade, we know our history.
The brass in the statues came from bracelets made by the Portuguese used to trade with black slave traders for black slaves. Slavery continued in Benin long after slavery had been abolished in Britain (the first country in the world to outlaw slavery). Britain was trying to end slavery in Benin, as well as the awful practise of human sacrifice, when it’s trade delegation to Benin were slaughtered. That’s why Britain responded by invading. Britain is why there is no slave trade there now. No human sacrifice. And we left a large modern city in its place when we left 60 years ago.
Bini culture and customs are still very much alive. Do not be deceived. Britain trying to "end" slavery in a area while the slave trade continued just down the river is a bit of strange point to make. The art was stolen you can try and make it sound as legitimate as you want- it was stolen. It does not belong to you. Reparation/restitution is an entirely different matter.
Te benins didn't sell slaves clown, they sold pepper, ivory, palm oil etc. Slavery was outlawed in the kingdom. THERE WAS NO ATTEMPT TO STOP SLAVERY! THE CAME THERE TRYING TO RECOUP ON THE PRICE OF THEIR EXPEDITION. THEY WERE UPSET THAT THE TRADE TALKS WERE COMING TO AN END WITH THE OBA
@martinlakeuk You really need to study further the reason acting consul general James Robert Phillips expeditionary party was attacked. They were going to meet with the oba because of grievances they had with the way the oba was handling a trade agreement. Phillips was warned that the oba could not meet with him during the Ague Festival, but would meet with him afterward. Full of hubris and arrogance, Phillips refused to take 'no' for an answer and proceeded on toward Benin City. It was then that the party was attacked and several were killed. The "slaughter" provided the perfect excuse for the British to depose the oba and loot and destroy Benin City.
You came their to exploit the people all this British hubris of ending slavery when you guys moved from slavery to colonisation and you destroyed the entire City
@@takkmoran9770 if you think that the British went around bullying people for the sake of it, you are hugely mistaken. British warships sat off the coast of Benin blocking the Portuguese continuation of the slave trade. Even if a trade delegation is rude and arrogant, you don’t slaughter the entire group. Do you see that? Doing so invited retribution from the British military, and rightly so, don’t you think?