Oba Ewuare II Calls For The Repatriation Of Benin Artifacts Carted Away By Europeans

By: Desmond Agbama/ Honours Akhigbe

The Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II has renewed the call for the repatriation of all Benin artifacts carted away during the European expedition to Benin Kingdom many years ago.
Oba Ewuare II made the call when he received the American Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Ambassador Stuart Symington and the Director Emerita of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Arts, Dr. Johnetta Cole in his Palace in Benin City.
His Royal Majesty said it was a great privilege to have Smithsonian National Museum of African Arts Exhibition in Benin City, which goes to demonstrate that Benin culture is number one in Africa.
The Oba of Benin informed his guests that Benin Kingdom has rich work of arts and a cultural center, and request Smithsonian to partner with the Palace to revive and improve on the facilities in the Cultural Center, so that it would have the capacity to host world class cultural and art exhibition.
The Benin Monarch informed the American Ambassador to Nigeria that the Palace would require economic and technological support from American government to develop Edo State, and explains that there is vested interest to open up the Gelegele Export Free Zone for economic gains.
Oba Ewuare II called for twinning of Benin City with an American City for mutual economic and cultural benefits.
The Oba of Benin used the opportunity to draw America government attention to the effects of environmental pollution in Nigeria and the world at large and calls for greater caution on the part of American government regarding the offensive in North Korea and the Peninsula.
The American Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Amb. Stuart Symington said the cultural and arts exhibition to be held in Benin City would further cement the bond between Nigerian and America.
Ambassador Stuart said the images to be exhibited would create surprises in the minds of people around the world, pointing out that the images reflects the Benin people.
On her part, the Director Emerita of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Arts, Dr. Johnetta Cole expressed satisfaction that the dream of Smithsonian Institution has become a reality as, the photographs taken over 60 years ago by the official photographer to the Royal Court of Benin Kingdom, Chief Solomon Osagie Alonge are brought to the people of Benin.
She said they had to collaborate with other agencies to stage the exhibition in Benin City because they love Africa with its work of Arts, pointing out that the Art exhibition would be quite memorable for Smithsonian Institution.
Meantime, the Director Emerita of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Arts, Dr. Johnetta Cole, has justified the non-repatriation over 3000 “stolen artifacts forcefully taken to Europe and America during the British invasion of Benin in 1897”.
Cole said: “Now I say to my sisters and brothers, if every work of African art is returned to Africa, how will the rest of the world know of your art, know of your culture, know of your history? I cannot speak for the British Museum, I cannot speak for the Museum in Belgium or the Museum in Amsterdam.
“But, I can speak for my Museum to tell you that it is with enormous respect that we document where every work has come from.
“We are doing everything in our power to use that art to tell your (Africans) story. Thank you”, she said.
According to her, “we have for example tow NOK figures in our Museum. We went to the government of Mali and we said here are two extra – ordinary expressions artiquities. We do not know where they came from. We said we were prepared to send them to you (Mali’s government) ans we were told by the Mali government thank you”.
Earlier in a remark, the Director-General, National Commission for Museums and monuments in Nigeria, Mr. Yusuf Abdullah Usman, commended the United States of America for supporting 850 graduates across 125 Countries including Nigeria.
The Curator, the Benin National Museum, Theophilus Omogbai, commended the US government for helping to refurbish the Museum which he assured wold help to strengthen families bond and further engage the public on Benin culture and tradition.

Please follow and like us:

About Author

Kadiri Christopher

See author's posts