Will Germany be the first to return works of art to Nigeria?
The Humboldt Museum, Germany.
AFP - TOBIAS SCHWARZ
Text by: Pascal Thibaut Follow
4 min
Will Germany be the first country to return to Nigeria bronzes from Benin, world-famous works of art?
The question arises after recent statements.
This painful legacy of the colonial era has given rise to many debates, notably related to the upcoming opening of a Berlin museum.
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These bronzes are among the most famous works of African art.
These brass busts and sculptures were made between the 16th and 18th centuries and decorated the royal palace of the Kingdom of
Benin
in what is now southwestern
Nigeria
.
During Britain's invasion of the region at the end of the 19th century, the king was forced into exile, his palace burned down
and the works confiscated
.
3,000 to 5,000 objects were auctioned off in London.
A thousand of them were bought by
Germany
.
Almost half are now in Berlin and the rest are spread over twenty German cities.
If the acquisition of these works was legal, the legitimacy of these collections is questionable.
Nigeria has tried, in vain, since its independence to obtain their restitution.
These bronzes are to be exhibited in a new Berlin museum.
The Humboldt forum, reconstruction of the castle of the Prussian kings in the heart of Berlin, is to house non-European art objects from the city's museums.
The German capital has, after the British Museum in London, the most important collection
of bronzes in Benin
.
In other words, it is a leading attraction of the Humboldt Forum, whose wing housing these works is due to open at the start of the school year.
The two rooms must also present the history of the kingdom of Benin, its conquest by the British and the controversial provenance of works of art.
Will the very last debates lead to a restitution of the Benin bronzes?
A recent remark by the director of the Humboldt forum certainly hit the headlines when he said that a decision would be taken by September on the return of the Benin bronzes.
Construction of a museum in Nigeria by 2024
The French historian Bénédicte Savoy, the most famous critic of the Humboldt forum, whom she had compared to Chernobyl, spoke in the wake of "
a fall of the cultural wall
".
An official at the new museum was already discussing how to fill the gaps in the exhibition that the absence of these works would mean.
But things are a little more complicated because the Humboldt forum does not decide.
The bronzes are in the bosom of the foundation of the Prussian heritage which has always been reluctant to restitutions.
Its board of directors is talking about an option.
But the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is moving forward.
A senior official recently visited Nigeria to discuss a possible rendition.
A museum
must be built by 2024 in Benin City
.
For Minister Heiko Maas, “
a sincere approach to colonial history also includes the issue of the restitution of works of art
”.
A positive decision would put other German museums housing Benin bronzes under pressure like other foreign establishments.
► To (re) listen: Accents d'Europe - Restitution of works of art: Africa at the forefront
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