The Benin Bronzes Controversy: Replicas in Benin City Spark Outrage Over Delayed Repatriation

Clay replicas of the iconic Benin Bronzes on display at the new Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City. Are they a stopgap or a setback?

In the heart of Nigeria’s Edo State, a gleaming new cultural beacon was meant to symbolize triumph: the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City, poised to house some of the world’s most looted treasures—the legendary Benin Bronzes. But as of October 12, 2025, visitors are greeted not by the shimmering original plaques, heads, and bells plundered by British forces in 1897, but by clay replicas. What was supposed to be a homecoming has turned into a flashpoint of controversy, exposing deep-seated tensions over heritage, power, and the slow crawl of restitution.

The Promise of Repatriation: Deals Struck, But Bronzes Stay Abroad

For years, global museums have faced mounting pressure to return the Benin Bronzes—over 3,000 artifacts scattered across institutions like the British Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Germany’s Humboldt Forum. High-profile loans and permanent returns have trickled in:

In 2022, the Humboldt Forum loaned 21 bronzes to Nigeria.

The British Museum followed with temporary displays.

France’s Musée du Quai Branly promised dozens more.

MOWAA, a $5 million project backed by international donors and designed by acclaimed Ghanaian-British architect David Adjaye, was billed as the ultimate repository. Its state-of-the-art vaults were ready. The deals were signed. So where are the originals?

The Core Issue: A Royal Rift in Edo State

The delay boils down to a bitter internal dispute between the Edo State government and the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II. The Oba, as custodian of the Benin Kingdom’s royal heritage, insists the bronzes belong in the Royal Palace—not a state-run museum. State officials, meanwhile, argue MOWAA’s facilities are superior for public access and preservation.

“This is not about politics; it’s about our ancestors’ legacy,” one palace source told reporters. The standoff has ground repatriation to a halt, leaving MOWAA’s galleries filled with high-fidelity clay copies crafted by local artisans. While admirers praise the replicas’ craftsmanship—mimicking the lost-wax technique of the originals—critics call it a “hollow victory.”

Voices from the Frontlines: “Don’t Let Disputes Deflect from Justice”

Mercy Imiegha, director of Nomadic Art Gallery in Benin City, cut through the noise in a viral statement: “Inter-Nigerian disputes should not deflect from the urgent need for the bronzes’ return.” She’s echoed by global advocates:

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie tweeted: “Replicas are beautiful, but they’re not our history. Return what’s ours.”

The #BeninBronzesHome campaign surged online, with petitions garnering 50,000 signatures in 48 hours.

Even the bronzes’ “hosts” weighed in: A Humboldt Forum spokesperson lamented, “We’re ready to ship them tomorrow—if Nigeria provides a clear destination.”

This isn’t just about artifacts; it’s a reckoning with colonialism’s scars. The 1897 Benin Punitive Expedition razed the kingdom, killing thousands and stripping its art—symbols of Obas’ divine power, intricate court life, and Edo cosmology.

A Broader Nigerian Renaissance at Risk?

The controversy casts a shadow over Nigeria’s cultural momentum. Just last week, the Tate Modern unveiled Nigerian Modernism, celebrating the nation’s artistic giants. Yet at home, infighting threatens to undermine these gains. As one Lagos curator put it: “How can we tell the world to respect our heritage if we can’t agree on where to put it?”

What’s Next? Mediation talks between the Oba and Governor Godwin Obaseki are rumored for November. In the meantime, MOWAA presses on with its replica exhibit, drawing tourists and school groups. But for many, it’s a poignant reminder: Restitution is as much about healing divides today as honoring the past.

What do you think? Should the bronzes go to the palace, the museum, or both? Drop your thoughts in the comments—let’s keep the conversation going.

Follow us for more on African arts, repatriation, and cultural justice. Share this post if you’re Team #ReturnTheBronzes!

Tags: Benin Bronzes, MOWAA, Nigeria Culture, Art Repatriation, Edo Heritage, Oba of Benin

Written by Gold Oyeniran