The Oba of Benin is head of the historic Eweka dynasty of the Benin Empire, centred on Benin City in modern-day Nigeria.
“This is really a great example for other institutions and other countries to take cue from,” Prof Tijani said during a ceremony at Jesus College.
“We look forward to going to Aberdeen to collect another piece. And also hopefully I am sure, of course optimistic, that we will come back to Cambridge to the Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, and be in the same process, being the second largest holder [of Benin Bronzes] in the UK.
“And of course the mighty British Museum is waiting and looking and seeing that they have nowhere to go, because all over the world we are receiving a positive response on the willingness to return these collections, which are subject of looting.”
‘Pressure on the British Museum’
The Benin Bronzes are a group of sculptures which include elaborately decorated cast plaques, commemorative heads, animal and human figures, items of royal regalia, and personal ornaments.
They were created from at least the 16th century onwards in the West African kngdom of Benin, by specialist guilds working for the royal court of the Oba – meaning king – in Benin City.
