Key facts
- Switzerland returned 18 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria.
- The artefacts were looted by British colonial forces in 1897.
- The restitution is the result of a collaborative process between Swiss museums and Nigerian partners under the Benin Initiative Switzerland.
- Fourteen pieces came from the Ethnographic Museum at the University of Zurich.
- The handover ceremony also included the restitution of a bronze bracelet and four archaeological monoliths from Nigeria’s Niger Delta region.
Switzerland has returned 18 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, marking a significant step in the African nation's long-standing efforts to reclaim cultural heritage looted during the colonial era. The restitution ceremony took place at the National Museum in Lagos.
The return is the outcome of a collaborative process between Swiss museums and Nigerian partners, facilitated by the Benin Initiative Switzerland, established in 2021 to investigate the provenance of Benin objects held in Swiss collections. This event implements an agreement signed in March 2026, which commits Switzerland to transferring ownership of 28 pieces.
Nigeria's culture minister, Hannatu Musa Musawa, stated that the return signifies more than just the recovery of artefacts, reflecting the strength of dialogue, trust, and international cooperation. Fourteen of the returned pieces originated from the Ethnographic Museum at the University of Zurich, with two each from the Museum Rietberg Zurich and the Musée d’Ethnographie de Genève.
The Benin Bronzes are a collection of metal and ivory sculptures and plaques that once adorned the royal palace of the Kingdom of Benin. Most were stolen by British colonial forces during a punitive expedition in 1897, after which the kingdom was absorbed into colonial Nigeria. These stolen pieces were subsequently sold to over 130 museums globally, with a significant number ending up in the United Kingdom and Germany.
In addition to the Benin Bronzes, the handover included a bronze bracelet and four archaeological monoliths from Nigeria’s Niger Delta region, which had been seized in Switzerland during criminal proceedings. Switzerland and Nigeria also formalized a cooperation agreement to enhance the protection of cultural heritage, as part of broader efforts to address historical injustices.
This restitution follows other recent returns, including 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria from the Netherlands last year and the University of Cambridge's transfer of legal ownership of 116 Benin Bronzes in February 2026. France has also returned royal treasures to Benin and a sacred talking drum to Ivory Coast. However, the repatriation process faces challenges, with institutions like the British Museum retaining a large number of Benin objects and refusing repatriation, citing legal arguments about the inalienability of their collections. Disputes have also arisen regarding the handling of repatriated artefacts within Nigeria.