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Benin: How an RFI Investigation Helped Return an Ancient Treasure to Benin
RFI, 18 May 2025
In Benin, a 'kataklè' - a ceremonial stool, and the final piece of the royal treasure of Abomey - has been returned by Finland, 133 years after being looted by French troops… Read more »
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Nigeria: Sweden to Return 39 Artefacts to Oba of Benin Palace
Daily Trust, 15 May 2024
The Swedish government has disclosed its resolved to return 39 pieces of Benin Artefacts in its museum to the custody of the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II. Read more »
Benin Gets 133-Year-Old Stolen Stool Back from Finland
Finland has returned a ceremonial stool, the kataklè, to Benin, more than 130 years after it was looted by French troops and transferred to the National Museum of Finland. The royal three-legged chair from the former Kingdom of Dahomey was found after an investigation.
The stool, part of the royal treasure of Dahomey, had been stored in Finland since 1939 after an exchange with the Musée de l'Homme. The kataklè was returned by Finnish Minister of Culture Mari-Leena Talvitie handed it over to the Beninese authorities during a ceremony at Marina Palace, the presidential residence in Cotonou.
This restitution followed an earlier 2021 return of 26 royal artifacts from France and contributed to a broader, ongoing movement by African nations to reclaim cultural heritage looted during colonial rule.
InFocus
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The Netherlands has joined a growing list of European nations returning culturally significant artifacts to Africa; it has agreed to repatriate 113 stolen Benin bronzes to Nigeria.
In a formal agreement signed between the Dutch education minister and Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments, the Netherlands pledged to
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The Horniman Museum in London housed a collection of 72 treasured items that were taken from Benin City in 1897, officially handed over ownership of the artefacts to the Nigerian government.
The first six objects that were returned, include two Benin bronze plaques from the royal palace which were handed over to Nigerian officials at a ceremony marking the transfer of ownership of the looted items.
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The U.S. has been commended by Nigeria's Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed for the repatriation of 31 Benin bronzes - part of thousands of artefacts that were looted by the British during their invasion of Benin Kingdom in 1897. The Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art transferred ownership of 29 Benin bronzes to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments in Nigeria. The National Gallery of Art, and the Rhode Island School of Design Museum returned one
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