Categories: AFRICAFeatured

New Online Archive for Benin Bronzes to Go Live at End of 2022

An online archive bringing together information on thousands of Benin Bronze artefacts in museums around the world is expected to go live at the end of next year, one of the organisers said on Friday.

The Benin Bronzes, which are mostly in Europe, were stolen from Nigeria’s Benin City during colonialism and are among Africa’s most significant heritage objects. The statues were created from at least the 16th century onwards, according to the British Museum.

Barbara Plankensteiner, director at Museum am Rothenbaum–World Cultures and Arts, who is leading the project to document the bronzes across the world, said data had been received from 110 museums globally.

“For many years we wanted to create a possibility to show all the Benin collections scattered worldwide in one digital platform,” Plankensteiner said at the Reuters Next conference.

“It will be a major source for research and knowledge about Benin art and cultural history relating to this art.”

In October the University of Aberdeen and Cambridge University’s Jesus College returned two Benin Bronzes to Nigeria.

The returns were seen as likely to increase pressure on the British Museum in London, which holds by far the largest and most significant collection of Benin Bronzes.

Abba Tijani, the head of National Commission for Museums and Monuments, said Nigeria was looking to build new museums to house Benin Bronzes that were being returned to the country.

He said he recently returned with three artefacts from the United States and that in future, Nigeria will seek to have joint exhibitions of the artefacts with some museums in the West.

“We are looking at having new museums in Benin City of international standard that will house these artefacts,” he said.

Follow us on:

AriseNews

Recent Posts

Prince William Arrives In South Africa For Earthshot Prize And Wildlife Summit

Prince William visits South Africa for Earthshot Prize, aiming to spotlight climate innovation and support…

26 mins ago

Abuja Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Dana Air MD Hathiramani Ranesh over Absence at Fraud Trial

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the arrest of Dana Air MD Hathiramani…

39 mins ago

Equatorial Guinea Anti-Graft Chief Embroiled in Major Sex Scandal, Over 400 Tapes Found Involving Top Officials’ Families

A High-ranking Equatorial Guinean official is facing a major sex scandal with 400 explicit sex…

44 mins ago

Tinubu Orders Immediate Release Of All Minors Arrested In Connection To #EndBadGovernance Protest

Tinubu Orders Immediate Release Of All Minors Arrested In Connection To #EndBadGovernance Protest President Tinubu…

51 mins ago

Court of Appeal Acquits Ex-CJN Onnoghen Of Non-Declaration Of Assets Charges, Orders Unfreezing of Bank Accounts

The Court of Appeal has discharged former CJN Walter Onnoghen, overturning his 2019 asset declaration…

5 hours ago