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Nigeria · Living Traditions
Benin
Bronzes
See it in practice
▶ View recordingSeveral thousand metal plaques and sculptures that decorated the royal palace of the Kingdom of Benin (now Edo State, Nigeria). Created by a specialist guild for the Oba (king) using lost-wax casting. Depict scenes from the kingdom's history, including dynastic and social history, relationships with neighboring kingdoms, and European traders.
Testimony
Advanced artistic and technical capabilities of the Edo people of the Kingdom of Benin. Reflect a highly sophisticated society with rich cultural heritage, advanced metalworking skills, and a complex social and political structure. Highlight the kingdom's interactions with European traders and its role in regional politics and trade networks.
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Immense pride for Nigerians and Africans worldwide. Represent rich cultural heritage and artistic achievements of their ancestors, challenging misconceptions about pre-colonial African civilizations. Celebrated for beauty, craftsmanship, and historical significance. Inspire contemporary African artists and cultural movements. Repatriation efforts symbolize reclaiming of cultural identity and heritage.
Academic source
British Museum: Benin Bronzes <br> Wikipedia: Benin Bronzes <br> University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee: The Case of the Benin Bronzes: Exploring Repatriation in U.S. Museums
Citations
[1] https://www.britishmuseum.org/about-us/british-museum-story/contested-objects-collection/benin-bronzes [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benin_Bronzes [3] https://dc.uwm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4089&context=etd [4] https://historyreclaimed.co.uk/looting-restitution-and-gas-an-update-on-the-benin-bronzes/ [5] https://folukeafrica.com/museum-talk-benin-bronzes-a-controversial-past-and-present/ [6] https://www.euronews.com/culture/2022/08/25/the-ancestors-are-returning-nigerians-rejoice-at-return-of-benin-bronzes-but-is-the-job-do [7] https://historyreclaimed.co.uk/the-controversial-benin-bronzes-the-bloody-past-of-this-world-art-and-why-there-cant-be-a-single-owner/ [8] https://newlinesmag.com/reportage/nigeria-debates-the-fate-of-returning-benin-bronzes/ [9] https://www.artnews.com/feature/benin-bronzes-explained-repatriation-british-museum-humboldt-forum-1234588588/ [10] https://museum.ng/benin-bronze-antiquities-imminent-homecoming-of-peoples-pride/ [11] https://www.sapriory.com/2022/06/09/upper-ii-alpha-and-the-benin-bronzes/
Archive record
Other traditions of Nigeria
The tradition lives on many forms.
