From TIME · · 1m 30s
Olugbile Holloway brings looted art home
Nigeria's museum chief is winning back thousands of Benin Bronzes stolen 125 years ago.
In brief
Nigeria's museum chief is winning back thousands of Benin Bronzes stolen 125 years ago. Strategic diplomacy and unified government agreements are proving more effective than decades of repatriation demands. Originally reported by TIME.
5,000 artifacts stolen in 1897
British troops sacked Benin City in Nigeria and took about 5,000 objects now called the Benin Bronzes. They scattered across European and American museums for over a century.
Repatriation finally begins in 2021
After decades of demands, governments and museums started returning the bronzes in 2021. The process had stalled for over a century despite persistent calls for their return.
Holloway orchestrates major returns
In June, Olugbile Holloway, director-general of Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments, secured 119 bronzes from the Netherlands. In February, he oversaw the return of over 100 artifacts from Cambridge University.
Unified agreement settles ownership
Holloway and the Benin Oba created a 20-page agreement clarifying who owns the bronzes and their future. This unified approach resolved confusion that had blocked repatriation efforts for years.
Corporate background shapes strategy
Holloway's experience in corporate advertising helped him navigate complex negotiations and build consensus. His approach contrasts with decades of unsuccessful repatriation demands.
British Museum remains the challenge
Holloway now targets the British Museum, which holds a major collection of Benin Bronzes but is legally prohibited from deaccessioning them. This represents the biggest remaining obstacle to full repatriation.
The short version
Strategic diplomacy and unified government agreements are proving more effective than decades of repatriation demands.
