English
Sweden is returning a significant collection of cultural artifacts to both Nigeria and Bolivia, in one of the country’s most substantial repatriation efforts to date. The Swedish government confirmed it will hand over 40 sacred objects from the Kingdom of Benin to Nigeria, alongside 77 items belonging to Bolivia’s Kallawaya people.
Benin Bronzes Return to Nigeria
Nigerian media reports that a delegation from the Benin Palace received the artifacts in Lagos. Oba Ewuare II, the monarch of Benin, described the handover as the result of years of sustained advocacy. Since taking the throne, Ewuare has campaigned persistently for the return of bronze sculptures, ceremonial objects, and ivory carvings — collectively known as the Benin Bronzes — from museums and private collections around the world.
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“We have been trying, through my grandfather’s efforts, to bring back our artifacts,” Ewuare said. “My grandfather succeeded, my father succeeded more, and I think now history is obvious to everybody. We are doing our best to triple and triple all those efforts of our forefathers.”
The Kingdom of Benin lost approximately 5,000 royal and religious objects in 1897. British forces seized them during a punitive military expedition through what is now Nigeria. The objects then spread through illicit channels into museums and private collections worldwide. Over time, the Benin Bronzes became a symbol of the broader push by formerly colonized nations to reclaim their cultural heritage.
A Shifting Global Debate
In recent years, public opinion has shifted noticeably toward supporting repatriation. As a result, institutions across Europe and North America have begun returning ethnographic objects to their countries of origin. Museums in the United States, the Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland have all returned Benin Bronzes and similar artifacts.
The debate over ethnographic collections remains contentious. However, the wave of recent repatriations suggests that major cultural institutions are increasingly willing to act. Sweden’s decision to return the Benin artifacts represents one of the largest single transfers of these objects to Nigeria.
Bolivia Also Receives Cultural Objects
In addition to the Nigerian handover, Sweden also announced the return of 77 objects to Bolivia. The items belong to the Kallawaya people and include human remains. Authorities removed these objects from Bolivia illegally before they entered the collection of Sweden’s World Culture Museum.
The Swedish government announced the transfer of ownership of the Bolivian objects in 2023. The items will now go to the Archaeological Museum in La Paz. Together, both repatriations mark a clear statement of intent from Sweden on the question of cultural heritage and colonial-era collections.
