The Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, has announced that arrangements have been concluded for the return of approximately 40 Benin artefacts from a museum in Sweden, describing the development as another milestone in the decades-long campaign to recover the Kingdom’s looted cultural heritage.
The monarch disclosed that the forthcoming restitution would involve both the legal transfer of ownership and the physical handover of the artefacts, unlike previous arrangements in which the two processes were conducted separately.
Oba Ewuare II made the disclosure during a courtesy visit to his palace by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.).
The monarch expressed satisfaction that years of sustained efforts to recover the Kingdom’s cultural treasures were yielding results, attributing the progress to the determination of successive generations of the Benin royal family.
According to him, the campaign to secure the return of the artefacts did not begin with his reign but dates back several decades to the efforts of his grandfather and father, who worked to recover cultural objects taken away from the ancient Benin Kingdom.
He explained that his grandfather initiated efforts towards the recovery of the artefacts, while his father continued the campaign, laying the foundation for the progress being recorded.
Oba Ewuare II said the longstanding commitment of his predecessors had helped sustain international engagement on the restitution of Benin cultural property.
The monarch also recalled his personal involvement in the campaign while serving as Nigeria’s ambassador to Scandinavian countries, including Sweden, Norway and Denmark.
He explained that his diplomatic assignments provided opportunities to engage foreign governments and traditional institutions on the return of Benin artefacts held in museums and collections outside Nigeria.
Recalling one of his engagements in Sweden, Oba Ewuare II disclosed that he had an audience with the King of Sweden during which he raised matters concerning the Kingdom’s cultural heritage.
According to him, the meeting lasted more than 12 minutes, although such diplomatic audiences would ordinarily have lasted only two or three minutes.
He described the encounter as particularly memorable, noting that it reflected the importance he attached to securing international support for the restitution of Benin’s cultural treasures.
The monarch said the latest arrangements for the return of approximately 40 artefacts represented progress in the campaign he and his predecessors had pursued for many years.
He particularly welcomed the decision to undertake both the legal and physical aspects of the restitution together.
Oba Ewuare II explained that previous restitution exercises frequently involved the transfer of legal ownership before arrangements were subsequently made for the physical movement of the objects.
Under the latest arrangement, however, both processes are expected to take place together, enabling the formal handover and physical delivery of the cultural objects.
The monarch described the development as an important step in restoring the Kingdom’s cultural heritage and strengthening the connection between the Benin people and objects associated with their history.
The announcement follows earlier discussions between the Benin Royal Palace and Swedish authorities concerning the return of artefacts held in Sweden.
In May 2024, Sweden’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Annika Hahn-Englund, visited the Benin Palace and conveyed the Swedish Government’s decision to return 39 Benin artefacts.
During that visit, the Oba recalled his earlier request to the Swedish monarch in 1998 for the return of Benin cultural objects.
He welcomed the announcement, expressing gratitude that the campaign for restitution was making progress.
The Swedish authorities had indicated that the artefacts would be returned through Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), the federal institution responsible for the preservation and management of cultural heritage.
The latest announcement by Oba Ewuare II refers to approximately 40 artefacts, although the precise number of objects covered by the forthcoming handover and the date of the exercise were not disclosed.
The development forms part of broader international efforts to return Benin cultural objects removed from the Kingdom during the colonial period, particularly following the British military invasion of Benin in 1897.
Thousands of royal and ceremonial objects were taken from Benin during that period and subsequently found their way into museums and private collections in Europe and other parts of the world.
The campaign for their restitution has continued through successive generations of the Benin monarchy, involving diplomatic engagements, cultural institutions and Nigerian authorities.
Several foreign institutions have returned Benin artefacts or committed to their restitution in recent years.
In October 2026, a centuries-old Benin bronze plaque held by Museum de Fundatie in the Netherlands was formally presented to Oba Ewuare II during activities marking the tenth anniversary of his coronation.
The artefact had been in the museum’s collection since 1937, and its return formed part of continuing efforts to restore objects associated with the Benin Kingdom.
The latest development involving Sweden adds to those restitution initiatives.
Oba Ewuare II emphasised that the return of cultural objects should not be viewed merely as the recovery of physical possessions.
According to him, the artefacts represent important aspects of the history, identity, traditions and cultural dignity of the Benin people.
He maintained that their restitution was therefore an important part of reconnecting the Kingdom with its heritage and preserving that legacy for future generations.
The monarch also disclosed that he considered the forthcoming handover important enough to adjust his schedule to participate personally in the event.
He said arrangements would be made to ensure adequate representation of the Benin traditional institution during the restitution exercise.
Oba Ewuare II commended individuals and institutions whose contributions had helped advance the recovery process over the years.
He acknowledged the role of his ancestors and the efforts of those who had continued to advocate for the return of Benin cultural treasures.
The monarch expressed gratitude to God Almighty and his ancestors for the progress recorded, describing the development as an encouraging outcome of a campaign sustained across generations.
He also reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that additional artefacts held outside Nigeria are returned to the Kingdom.
The announcement is expected to draw further attention to ongoing discussions between Nigerian authorities, the Benin Royal Palace and foreign museums concerning ownership, custody and the physical restitution of cultural objects.
Although arrangements for the return of approximately 40 artefacts have been concluded, the monarch’s announcement concerns a forthcoming handover rather than confirmation that the objects have already been physically delivered.
For Oba Ewuare II, the anticipated return represents another achievement in the continuing campaign to restore the cultural heritage of the Benin Kingdom, a struggle he said was initiated by his predecessors and would continue until more of the Kingdom’s treasures were brought home.
Post Title: “Years Of Efforts Finally Yielding Results” — Oba Of Benin Announces Return Of 40 Looted Artefacts From Sweden By Naijaonpoint.