- These objects are not only fantastic artifacts - they are also some of Africa's greatest treasures.

But they also tell a story of colonial violence, said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock in connection with the agreement reached in Berlin.

Already on Friday, the Nigerian Foreign Minister Zubairu Dada received two bronze medals.

- This will go down in history as one of the most important days for the celebration of the African cultural heritage, he says.

Negotiations are underway with several countries

The Kingdom of Benin, or Edo as it was also called, arose in the 15th century and existed until 1897 when the British conquered the kingdom, sent the king into exile and placed the area under British colonial rule.

It should not be confused with the state of Benin, which is Nigeria's western neighbor.

In Germany, there are about 1,100 works of art from the Kingdom of Benin that were made in the 16th and 18th centuries.

They are scattered in about 20 museums around the country.

The largest collection is at the Ethnographic Museum in Berlin.

There are 440 such objects.

Negotiations are currently underway about which bone bronzes they will be allowed to borrow from Nigeria and which will be returned at once.

Nigeria has negotiated with several European countries to recover bone bronzes.

Today, the country has plans to open a museum in Benin City.

The idea is that the art objects will be stored there in the future.