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.
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