Oba of Benin receives looted royal stools from German Govt
By Innocent Raphael
The Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, has officially received two looted royal stools from the German government, marking a significant moment in the restitution of cultural artefacts.
The royal stools, one bronze and one wooden, known as Ekete, were taken during the British invasion of Benin City in 1897.
The artefacts, originally looted during the reigns of Oba Eresoyen and Oba Esigie, were handed over to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) by German authorities in 2022.
The Director-General of NCMM, Mr. Olugbile Holloway, presented the returned items to Oba Ewuare II in a ceremony recently held at the Benin Royal Palace.
During the presentation, Mr. Holloway pledged the NCMM’s commitment to collaborating closely with the Benin Royal Court to promote and display Edo heritage.
He emphasized the gradual return of Benin bronzes and other artworks to Nigeria and highlighted the joint efforts to establish a world-class destination for global appreciation of these cultural treasures.
