The Netherlands has returned a Benin artefact to the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, 129 years after the invasion of the Benin Kingdom.
The presentation took place at the Oba’s Palace in Benin City on Tuesday as part of activities marking the traditional ruler’s 10th coronation anniversary.
Chief Lucky Imasue, chairman of the 10th Coronation Anniversary Committee and former Deputy Governor of Edo State, said the Netherlands had initiated the return of artefacts taken from Benin following the 1897 invasion.
Imasue said every Benin artefact belonged to the Oba, regardless of the number, adding that more items were expected to be returned.
He said the artefact was presented by the Consul General of the Netherlands, Frank Keurnorst, alongside Beatrice van Bormann, Executive Director of Museum De Fundatie in the Netherlands.
Imasue described the return on October 20 as significant, noting that it coincided with the Oba’s 10th coronation anniversary, exactly 129 years after many historical objects were taken from the kingdom.
He explained that the artefacts documented the majesty of the Oba and life in the Benin Kingdom, serving as historical records preserved in the palace before the invasion.
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“Efforts to recover the artefacts date back to previous Obas, but gained momentum under Ewuare, whose diplomatic experience as a former ambassador helped advance the campaign,” he said.
According to Imasue, the Federal Government, through the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, recognises that the artefacts were taken from the Oba’s palace and should be returned there.
He thanked the government and people of the Netherlands for returning the object and choosing the Oba’s coronation anniversary for the presentation.
The ceremony was also attended by the Portuguese Ambassador to Nigeria, Paulo Santos.
In his anniversary address, Ewuare commended the Netherlands for returning the historical object after more than a century. He also thanked the Portuguese ambassador and the Dutch consul general for attending the ceremony.
The Oba disclosed plans to deepen cultural and historical relations with Portugal, recalling that the Holy Aruosa Church in Benin was established during the Portuguese era in the kingdom.
He explained that his forefathers had attempted to embrace Catholicism while retaining their traditional beliefs, leading to the establishment of a church whose practices and regalia reflected Catholic influences.
“The Benin kingdom maintains its traditional spiritual portals of communication with Almighty God,” he said.
Ewuare also recalled his experience as Nigeria’s ambassador in Rome, where he learnt that the Vatican had begun recognising African traditional religions.
The traditional ruler commended Van Bormann for her commitment to the artefact recovery assignment and for achieving its objective.
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