Nigeria will loan seven Benin Bronzes to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art out of the 29 repatriated artefacts for the next (See Benin Bronzes here) five years.
Professor Abba Tijjani, Director General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, disclosed this.
Tijjani spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Washington DC.
NMAfA, in a joint ceremony, collectively transferred ownership of 29 Benin bronzes to NCMM on Tuesday.
The Director General said the ceremony was important for Nigeria because the country wanted to tell the world that some countries had responded positively to repatriation of stolen artefacts from (See Benin Bronzes here) Nigeria.
Tijjani said: “Many museums are responding positively, and it is the right thing to do for any museum of a country because you cannot illegally take artefacts away from their original place, display them in your museums.
“This will create unethical practice for the profession, don’t have moral attitude to display object stolen and you expect visitors to comfortably visit the museums, go round, and enjoy them.
“So, they are doing the right thing to portray these objects to turn them back to Nigeria.”
ijani said Nigeria was willing to partner with any museum or institution willing to repatriate the country’s artefacts to give some of those objects on loan for certain period.
According to him, Nigeria is willing to give some of the objects on loan in such cases that will allow display in moral and ethical attitude ways.
Tijani also confirmed to NAN that a piece of Benin Bronze called the “Head of a King”, which had been in the collection of Rhode Island Museum for more than 70 years, was returned to the Nigerian Government on Tuesday.