Nigeria and Switzerland have started discussions on the repatriation of Nigerian artefacts, including Benin bronzes and monoliths, currently housed in Swiss museums. These artefacts were likely looted during the 1897 British punitive expedition. Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, met with Swiss Ambassador Patrick Egloff to discuss the return of these cultural items.
The Swiss ambassador mentioned that the restitution process began three years ago, and they aim to hand over the bronze pieces through the Nigerian Embassy by the end of the year. Both parties agreed to continue discussions and explore opportunities for collaboration in the arts and cultural sectors.
The return of these artefacts is significant for Nigeria’s cultural heritage, and a new state-of-the-art museum in Benin City, the Museum of West African Art, is being built to house the returned artefacts. This development follows recent returns of Benin artefacts from institutions in Germany, the Netherlands, and the US.
