Episode #154 – What Became of the Benin Bronzes? (Part I)

Looting has been a part of warfare since the earliest times. Despite the fact that looting was common for much of history, it was always recognized as an especially harmful and humiliating by-product of armed conflict. By the late 19th century, the looting of sacred objects and culturally significant works of art was widely considered a war crime and was forbidden by a number of international treaties. But despite these high minded treaties, the treasures of Indigenous people, Africans, and South Asian people were still considered “fair game” by European colonialists. In 1897 the British returned from the West African Kingdom of Benin with a remarkable haul of looted art of religious objects. Many of these objects, known collectively as the Benin Bronzes, are still in Britain today as part of the collection held by the British Museum. What do these works of art mean to the people of Benin? How did they fall into the hands of the British? Why are they still considered some of the most controversial museum objects in the world? Tune-in and find out how tamed lice, a leopard sacrifice, and wall five times longer than the Great Wall of China, all play a role in the story.

Introduction to Benin This term we have been learning all about Benin. All of the work you are about to see is written by and stars year 5. Now we hope. -

The Imagery of Power on Benin Bronze Plaques – Smarthistory

plaque | British Museum — Some examples of the plaques that are part of the plundered “Benin Bronzes”

Works Cited

Davis, R. Hunt. “Interpreting The Colonial Period In African History.” African Affairs, vol. 72, no. 289, 1973, pp. 383–400., doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.afraf.a096410.

Egharevba, Jacob U. A Short History of Benin. Ibadan Univ. Press, 1991.

Graham, James D. “The Slave Trade, Depopulation and Human Sacrifice in Benin History: The General Approach.” Cahiers d’Études Africaines, vol. 5, no. 18, 1965, pp. 317–34. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/4390897. Accessed 1 Jun. 2022.

Igbafe, Philip A. “The Fall of Benin: A Reassessment.” The Journal of African History, vol. 11, no. 3, 1970, pp. 385–400. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/180345. Accessed 1 Jun. 2022.

Marshall, Alex. “This Art Was Looted 123 Years Ago. Will It Ever Be Returned?” The New York Times, The New York Times, 23 Jan. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/01/23/arts/design/benin-bronzes.html.

Phillips, Barnaby. Loot: Britain and the Benin Bronzes. Oneworld Publications, 2022.

“Story of Cities #5: Benin City, the Mighty Medieval Capital Now Lost without Trace.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 18 Mar. 2016, www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/mar/18/story-of-cities-5-benin-city-edo-nigeria-mighty-medieval-capital-lost-without-trace.

“U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield.” U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield – 1863 LIEBER CODE – Protecting Cultural Heritage Worldwide, uscbs.org/1863-lieber-code.html.