Netherlands Returns Historic Benin Artefact to Oba Ewuare II After 129 Years

A valuable piece of the Benin Kingdom’s history has finally returned home, as the Netherlands handed back a historic artefact to Oba Ewuare II, 129 years after British forces looted treasures from the kingdom during the 1897 invasion.

The artefact was presented at the Oba’s palace in Benin City on October 20, as part of celebrations marking the monarch’s 10th coronation anniversary.

The return follows the Netherlands’ handover of 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria in June 2025, marking another step towards restoring the kingdom’s looted cultural heritage.

What’s your take on the return of these historic artefacts to their rightful home?