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Equality

Germany Returns Benin Bronzes Sculptures to Nigeria Looted a Century Ago

  • Nigeria urges other countries to also return artifacts taken
  • Sculptures were shipped to Europe after 1897 British attack
There are about 1,000 Benin Bronzes objects in Germany.

There are about 1,000 Benin Bronzes objects in Germany.

Photographer: Jens Schlueter/AFP/Getty Images

Germany handed over 20 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria more than a century after they were looted by British colonists in a step that may spur other countries to return artifacts stolen from Africa.

The return of the objects opens a new chapter in deeper cooperation with Nigeria, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told reporters ahead of the ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, on Tuesday.