Good sense prevails as UK university agrees to return looted Benin statue
What happened in those days should not have happened. That is the instructive import of the official removal of a Benin bronze sculpture known as Okukor from the dining hall at Jesus College, University of Cambridge, UK. The bronze cockerel was among the hundreds of treasures looted by British troops involved in a “punitive expedition” that resulted in the 1897 conquest of old Benin Kingdom, which is now part of Nigeria. This 19th century demonstration of the beastly aspects of humanity remains a haunting reminder of colonialism and its unflattering sins.
It is interesting that the decision by the university’s authorities to take down the sculpture followed a campaign by the college’s student union in the context of increasing activism against symbols of Britain’s colonial past. In April, the Jesus College Student Union (JCSU) passed a motion saying that the sculpture should be formally handed over to Nigeria. The students said: ”The contemporary political culture surrounding colonialism and social justice, combined with the university’s global agenda, offers a perfect opportunity for the college to benefit from this gesture.”
Against the background that the sculpture was a donation from the estate of a former British officer, George Neville, who died in 1929, the students argued that its continued display was a minus because it was plundered. The cockerel sculpture has been at the college since 1930 and symbolically reflects the surname of its founder, John Alcock. The college’s crest displays three cockerels’ heads.
It is striking that the institution’s authorities reviewed the position of the sculpture after over 80 years. A university spokesperson was quoted as saying: ‘Jesus College acknowledges the contribution made by students in raising the important but complex question of the rightful location of its Benin Bronze, in response to which it has permanently removed the Okukor from its Hall.” The spokesperson added: “The College commits to work actively with the wider university and to commit resources to new initiatives with Nigerian heritage and museum authorities to discuss and determine the best future for the Okukor, including the question of repatriation.”
It is noteworthy that the students’ “Benin Bronze Appreciation Committee” reportedly said it was in contact with a Nigerian government official who wanted the sculpture returned to Nigeria. Since Nigeria gained independence in 1960, the country has pursued the return of hundreds of Benin bronzes looted by British expansionists as well as other artistic gems transported illegally to Western countries during the colonial era.
The drama of Okukor’s removal is reminiscent of the return of two Benin bronze statues to Benin City two years ago by Mark Walker, a retired medical consultant whose grandfather participated in the 1897 raid. The two bronze works, the Ahianmwen-Oro and Egogo, also known as the Ibis and the Bell, had sacred qualities from the perspective of their provenance. Walker returned them to the Oba of Benin, Erediauwa I, at a colourful ceremony. On the occasion, the Oba’s brother, Prince Edun Akenzua, said Walker’s action would “contribute positively to healing the bruise etched on the psyche of Benin people since 1897”. At the time, Walker was quoted as saying: “It is morally wrong and unethical to hold on to works that do not belong to one legally.”
It is worth recalling how the story began concerning the looted Benin bronzes that are outside their local locale. Following the killing of nine British officers by natives while on a trade mission to Benin Kingdom, the British authorities reacted even more violently by setting the ancient city ablaze, killing thousands of natives and forcing their king into exile.
This created a perfect situation for wild looting. Numerous artworks were plundered from the royal palace, including age-long Benin bronzes that demonstrated superlative artistry. Most of the stolen works have been domiciled at the British Museum in London ever since.
It is important to highlight the reality that today museums in Britain, Germany and the U.S. hold hundreds of bronze works created by the Edo people in the 13th century, the majority of them stolen. It is relevant to mention that an art historian, Philip J. C. Dark, in his work titled, “Benin Bronze Heads: Styles and Chronology,” said that about 6, 500 Benin artefacts could be found in an estimated 77 places across the world. Of this number, the British Museum is believed to be in possession of 700 while the Ethnology Museum in Berlin holds over 500.
It is a testimony to the artistic advancement of the Edo people that when colonialists encountered their works, they were reportedly amazed that such treasures could be created by people they arrogantly regarded as ‘primitive’. It is a credit to the ancient Benin civilisation that its bronze works remain among the most celebrated African artworks.
At the heart of the looting of African artefacts by Western invaders is the question of morality. It is the same question that drove the campaign for the removal of Okukor from its pedestal in a foreign land. Hopefully, Okukor would be returned to where it belongs. Also, it is hoped that there would be an intensification of the campaign for the return of looted artefacts.
