Swiss museums return Benin bronzes to Nigeria

Swiss museums and authorities have agreed to return Benin artefacts to Nigeria as part of restitution efforts tied to provenance research.

The Musée d’ethnographie de Genève (MEG) will return 3 objects, Zurich’s ethnographic museum will send back 14, and the Musée Rietberg will return 11, with ownership transfer formalised after signatures were completed with Nigeria’s representative. The museums, along with the relevant city and university authorities, framed the move as a step toward repairing historical injustices.

Nigeria’s requests for the items began as early as 2024, and the restitution follows research carried out under the Benin Switzerland Initiative, launched in 2021. The objects are described as part of the “Benin bronzes” looted in 1897 during an attack by the British colonial army. Some returned items are also expected to stay in Switzerland for the longer term as loans, even as ownership is transferred.