July 11, (THEWILL) – The spoils of war have been, for centuries, part of human nature. When nations or countries go to war, the victors almost always loot whatever they can lay their hands on from the vanquished. Such war booties could be human beings, women especially, artworks, gold, money and any such thing that might be of value to them.
From ancient Greece through the Roman Empire down to modern warfare like the first and second world wars, losers have never been spared. The English did it to the Greeks by systematically making off with the famous Elgin marbles. The Germans did it to the French in World War II by criminally stealing some of their famous paintings. So, when the British invaded the ancient Benin Empire in 1897, they naturally felt obliged to make off with hundreds of artefacts from the ancient kingdom.
It is not quite clear whether such war booties are part of the punitive measures imposed on the vanquished or as part payment for their aggressive behaviour. Whatever it is, it is fait accompli that losers must pay somehow. But times have changed. There seems to be more consideration for countries now after a particularly brutal confrontation, especially when it comes to national treasures like art works.
When news filtered in sometime last year that the looted artefacts from Benin were to be returned, Nigerians were delighted to no end. More delighted was the traditional institution in Benin, the palace of the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II. Months after the planned repatriation from some European countries, particularly Germany, controversy has arisen over who should be the custodian of the said art works. Is it the palace of the Oba of Benin, the state or the federal government? Again, a whopping sum of $20m is likely to be paid as restitution. Where should the money go? Is it the very place the works were looted from or the country Nigeria?
Those are the questions of the raging controversy at the moment.
Just last May, Oba Ewuare II had a press conference after a German delegation led by Andreas Gorgen, Director-General of the Directorate of Culture and Communications in the German Embassy in Nigeria, paid the monarch a courtesy call in his palace. He also had one this weekend, insisting more than ever before that the artefacts belong to the Benin people and must be returned to them.
The monarch took umbrage at the decision by certain third parties to negotiate on behalf his kingdom concerning the artefacts. One of them is Legacy Trust Foundation set up by the Edo state government. Quoting Ewuare II, some analysts reported that the monarch “expressed displeasure that some groups of individuals, using pseudo names, are negotiating the recovery of stolen Benin artworks on behalf of the throne,” insisting that “the palace could not fold its hands to see such abominable development take place.”
Continuing, Ewuare II said: “These artefacts should be returned to the original owner which, in reality, is the Benin Kingdom. The works, he also disclosed, “have deep spiritual, traditional and cultural significance.”
But just this week, the Federal Government led by Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Lai Mohammed, insisted the planned return of the works should be delayed for a year more. It is not clear yet whether the minister’s statement is in consonance with the Benin monarch’s views.
On Friday, again, a famous Benin son and onetime deputy governor of Edo state, Lucky Imasuen, spoke to Arise TV on the raging controversy. Asked where the art works should be returned, Imasuen was unequivocal in his response. He began by tracing the history of the works, saying that at the time they were looted in 1897, the works were in the present palace during Oba Ovoramwen’s reign.
“The fight to return this artefacts back to Benin started several years ago during the reign of Oba Akenzua and Oba Erediauwa. The current Oba who was Crown Prince and an ambassador to several European countries was mandated by his father to ensure that these artefacts are returned back to Nigeria. The palace of the Oba of Benin belong to Benin people. The artefacts belong to the Benin people. The Oba of Benin is the authorized custodian of our heritage…You cannot possibly take things out of the palace of the Oba of Benin.”
The former deputy governor also spoke on the safety of the artefacts as some people have griped about. Imasuen insisted that long before the artworks were looted by the Brits, many of them were more than 400 years old and nothing happened to them. So, the question of safe keeping by those who have expressed such fears is out of it.
“Some of the artworks were already 400 years old before the British looted them,” Imasuen added, “and they were in good form.” What those canvassing for another museum should do, he said, is for them to work in tandem with the palace to build a suitable museum “for the benefit of the Benin people, for the benefit of Nigerian, for the benefit of west Africa and for the benefit of Africa and for the benefit of the entire world.”
On whether there should be a compromise between the palace and the trustees to manage or take custody of the works in question, Imasuen declared that “it is an insult of major proportion that the works should be received or managed on behalf of the Benin people.”
However long it takes, the looted art works will find their way back to where they were purloined centuries ago. What is yet unclear at the moment is whether they will be returned to the Oba’s palace as the traditional ruler wishes. As it is, the controversy over the return of the artefacts is still on.
About the Author
Michael Jimoh is a Nigerian journalist with many years experience in print media. He is currently a Special Correspondent with THEWILL.
