Epoch day in Benin City today as the signing of the deed of transfer of the recently returned bronze cockerel from the Jesus college Cambridge University and the Oba bronze head from university of Aberdeen both in the UK took place today, at palace of the Oba of Benin HRM Oba Ewuare II.
They are parts of thousands of artefacts looted from Benin City in 1897, by the British in a punitive expedition to the Benin Kingdom. Many of these artefacts have been in several museums in Europe, especially in the UK and Germany.
The bronze cockerel has been on display at Jesus college, until the Students began a wave of opposition against the flagrant display, of stolen works of art from former colonial territories in their school, which culminated in the eventual return of the bronze cockerel, including the oba bronze head which was at Aberdeen university, to Nigeria, and are currently in the possesion of the Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK Ambassador Tunji Ishola. However British law demands, that a deed of transfer must be executed, before they can leave British shores.
Signatories to the deed including the Oba of Benin and the Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK appended their signatures, and the deed of transfer was then officially presented to His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare II. It was joy unconfined by the Oba, because this is happening during his reign and coinciding with the 5th anniversary of his coronation.
The Emir of Kano Ado Bayero and many traditional rulers were in attendance to witness an obviously red letter day, in the anals of black African history.
It is now expected that the physical return of the artefacts, especially the bronze cockerel and the Oba bronze head, to the palace is imminent.
Report: courtesy, Osazee Obazee
