Cambridge’s Jesus College Returns Benin Artefact Stolen In 1897

Jesus College, Cambridge has returned a looted artefact, the Ọkhọkhọ to the palace of the Oba of Benin, where it was stolen in 1897 and been returned to the Palace of the Ọba of Benin.

The bronze looted image was part of the things the British and other Europeans took away from Benin during the war in 1897.

You could recall that the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, recently protested the Edo state government’s intention to assume control of the 1,130 stolen Benin antiques that are being repatriated from Germany.

Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, Godwin Obaseki, the Governor of Edo State, and some other top politicians are now in Germany to expedite the return of stolen artefacts reportedly stolen during the British led by Captain Philip’s invasion of the Benin Kingdom in 1897.

According to the Oba Of Benin, he wants the artefacts to be brought back to the  Benin Royal Museum while the State government wants the artefacts at the Edo Museum of West African Arts.

This has created a bit of confusion between the Oba and the state government. 

The Oba said: “I have called this meeting today (Friday) to intimate you of the matter of the Benin artefacts in Europe on the verge of being repatriated, which I am sure you have heard and read about in recent weeks.