It is about two brass plaques from the 16th century and a brass head from the 14th century that originates from the Kingdom of Benin in present-day Nigeria.
The objects were looted from the Royal Palace during the British occupation in 1897 and kept at the British Museum in London until 1950, when Britain returned the works of art to Nigeria.
But after the objects were taken care of by the Nigerian National Museum in Lagos, they once again entered the art market and ended up with a private collector, who in 1991 donated them to The Met in New York, where the public has been able to view the brass works of art.
Request from the Minister of Culture
Thirty years later, they have now been returned to Nigeria's national collections.
The country's Minister of Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed calls on more museums and art collectors to follow suit.
- The art world can become a better place if each holder of cultural objects takes into account the rights and feelings that those who have been expelled have, he says.
The Met has also agreed with the Nigerian authorities on a future collaboration and loan of works of art.
More countries are returning
Stolen artifacts from, among others, present-day Nigeria are a current issue for museums in several western countries.
Recently, France returned 26 items looted from Benin during colonial times.
German museums have also agreed with Nigeria on a plan to return stolen treasures, while the British Museum in 2019 returned stolen antiques to Iraq and Afghanistan.