Sweden Returns 39 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria After 129 Years

Sweden has formally handed over 39 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, 129 years after British forces looted cultural artefacts from the Benin Kingdom during the 1897 invasion. The handover took place at a ceremony in Lagos on Thursday, November 12, with the National Commission for Museums and Monuments set to receive the collection. The returned objects include items known as Emwin Arre. Six will remain in Sweden under a 10-year loan arrangement. A Swedish museum curator described the restitution as an important step in addressing colonial-era looting. The return adds to other restitution efforts. The Netherlands returned 119 objects to Nigeria in 2025, while Germany handed over 20 Benin Bronzes in 2022.

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