The Netherlands to return the statues of the stolen boys to Nigeria

The Netherlands says it will return to more than 100 boys bronze, which British forces have risen from Nigeria in the late nineteenth century, which ended in the Dutch Museum.

Thousands of these culturally important sculptures and sculptures were stolen during the violent destruction of the city of Benin, in the state of Ido in the modern era, in 1897.

The treasures, some of which were sold to a private university and some to museums such as Wriedmuseum in the Netherlands, which were offered these handicrafts for decades.

Ologbeel Holway, General Manager of the National Committee for Museums and Antiquities in Nigeria (NCMM), said that the return of handicrafts 119 is “the largest restoration of the antiquities of Benin.”

Despite the name, not all statues are made of bronze. They include statues, fangs and sculptures for boys rulers and ivory mask. It was made during the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries.

The transfer of the agreement will be signed on Wednesday. Mr. Holway added that he hoped this will be a good example of other countries.

In 2022, Germany was the first to return to more than 20 boys bronze in an attempt to deal with it “Dark colonial history”.

“With this return, we contribute to compensation for the historical injustice that is still perceived today,” said Dutch Minister of Culture, Education and Science, Ebo Broins.

The statues, which have been appreciated by their beauty and artistic art, are of spiritual and historical importance to people from this part of Nigeria.

Their stealing is a pain point for the grandchildren of those from the ancient kingdom of Benin.

This step may increase the pressure on other institutions to return Bron’s Bronz, especially the British Museum, which includes more than 900 artifacts.

Protests and demonstrations took place outside the British Museum as part of a campaign to return.

However, the work of Parliament prevents the British Museum from returning them.

For many in Nigeria, the bronze boys are a strong reminder violent colonialism.

NCMM has issued requests for the official homeland to museums all over the world.

Nigeria said it plans to open the Ido Western Arts Museum in Benin in 2026, which was designed by the Ghanaian British architect Sir David Oujay, to house the largest group of Bronz Benin ever.