The University of Cambridge has formally returned 116 priceless Benin artefacts to Nigeria, marking one of the largest single repatriations of Benin Bronzes and related cultural treasures from a British institution.
The handover ceremony took place on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, with the artefacts officially transferred to representatives of the Nigerian government and the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Omo N'Oba N'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Ewuare II. The collection includes intricate bronze plaques, carved ivory tusks, brass bells, ceremonial swords, and other objects looted by British forces during the 1897 Benin Expedition (also known as the Benin Punitive Expedition).
In an official statement, the University of Cambridge described the return as “a significant step in acknowledging historical wrongs and supporting cultural restitution.” The institution emphasized that the decision followed extensive consultation with Nigerian authorities, the Benin Royal Court, and international experts, and aligns with growing global momentum toward the repatriation of colonial-era looted artefacts.
The artefacts were among thousands taken from the Royal Palace of the Oba of Benin after British troops sacked and burned Benin City in 1897. Many of the pieces had been held in the University’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology and other Cambridge collections for over a century.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, Prof. Deborah Prentice, stated: “These objects are of profound cultural, spiritual, and historical importance to the people of Benin and Nigeria. Returning them is the right thing to do. It reflects our commitment to ethical stewardship, transparency, and meaningful partnership with source communities.”
The returned items will initially be held in Abuja under the custody of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), pending the completion of the new Edo Museum of West African Art (EMOWAA) in Benin City, which is under construction and expected to become the permanent home for repatriated Benin Bronzes.
Oba Ewuare II welcomed the return as “a historic moment of justice and healing,” expressing gratitude to the University of Cambridge and reaffirming the Benin Royal Court’s commitment to preserving and displaying the artefacts for future generations.
The repatriation follows similar moves by other major institutions, including the University of Aberdeen (2021), the University of Glasgow (2022), the Horniman Museum (2022), and the German museums’ large-scale returns in 2022–2023. Cambridge’s return of 116 pieces is among the largest from a single British university to date.
The handover has been welcomed by Nigerian officials, cultural heritage advocates, and the international restitution movement, who see it as further momentum toward comprehensive repatriation of Benin Bronzes held in museums across Europe and North America.
The Cambridge collection was acquired in the aftermath of the 1897 expedition, when thousands of Benin artworks were looted, auctioned, and dispersed to private collectors and public institutions worldwide. Nigeria has been actively campaigning for their return since independence, with intensified efforts in recent years under the leadership of the Benin Dialogue Group and the Nigerian government.
The ceremony in Abuja included traditional rites, speeches by government officials, and symbolic handover of the artefacts, underscoring the cultural and diplomatic significance of the moment.
