Returning Benin Bronzes

Witness History

BBC

History, Personal Journals, Society & Culture

4.4 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 16 August 2023

⏱️ 10 minutes

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Summary

In 2004, a chance encounter in Nigeria led to the return of two of the country’s ancient artworks, the looted Benin Bronzes. The treasures were among thousands stolen from Benin City by the British Army in 1897, and acquired by museums around the world. More than a century later, Tim Awoyemi and Steve Dunstone were on a charity trip when they were approached by campaigners demanding the bronzes return. The two men vowed to help, but it took them 10 years before they were able to fulfil that promise, as Tim Awoyemi tells Jane Wilkinson. (Photo: Benin Bronzes, Nigeria, 2014. Credit: Kelvin Ikpea/AFP via Getty Images)

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello and welcome to the witness history podcast from the BBC World Service with me, Jane
0:10.1	Wilkinson.
0:11.1	We're going back to 2004 to find out how some of the world's most treasured artworks
0:16.6	the Benin bronzes were finally brought home and to meet the man who helped make it happen.
0:23.4	Those bronzes were unlawfully taken, they were looted, they were trolling, they were
0:29.2	giving away and that is why there has been a lot of outcry emotionally they wanted
0:34.5	back.
0:35.5	It's about justice.
0:38.2	That's Tim Auyemi, a retired UK police officer who grew up in Nigeria and was taught
0:43.4	the history of the Benin bronzes.
0:45.7	Back in 1897 the ancient city was one of the wealthiest kingdoms in West Africa and
0:51.8	the British were desperate for control.
0:54.7	Their chance arrived after a group of British officials were killed on the way to see Benin's
0:59.1	king known as the Obba.
1:01.4	A month later, in February 1897, 1200 British soldiers arrived in response, the city walls
1:09.4	didn't stop the British punitive expedition and the city was raised to the ground.
1:16.1	Benin city taken afternoon 18th, stop, running fight entire route, considerable resistance
1:22.0	taking city, stop, city now deserted, stop.
1:26.4	At the Royal Palace, they found artwork that they couldn't believe had been created
1:31.0	by Africans.
1:32.5	Around 2,000 pieces were taken, sold and distributed to western museums.
1:38.4	The Obba was deposed and died in exile.
	...

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