This part of the matter regarding the repatriation of our looted artefacts has been unnecessarily prolonged because the British Museum attempted to co-opt the process by using the governor of the state, Governor Godwin Obaseki, as tool to serve the advantage of very same hoarders of stolen artefacts, the British Museum. Mr Obaseki in turn was, sadly, eager to comply with the ex-colonizers in their fabricated notion that the works “belong to NGN govt” and should be “loaned“ ‘govt to govt’ through a museum to be called ‘emowaa’.
Blinded with foolishness, Mr Obaseki began actively seeking all kinds of means to undermine the palace over the initially agreed on BENIN ROYAL MUSEUM, all in absurd attempts to broker his sham agreement with the Brits of ‘no return, just loan from govt to govt’ for presentation in a ‘British Museum funded’ ‘emowaa’”. In doing, Mr Obaseki put the palace of the Oba under unwanted attention through his (unfortunate) propensity for politicking.
Hence why the FGN in the person of the president of the Federal Government of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, acting in this manner with an official gazette is a firm gesture of support: 1. on the nature of the artefacts of 1897, which is that they were stolen and are illegally held by the theft parties, 2. the support of the FGN in recognition of this special aspect in the matter and, 3. a firm gesture of support by the FGN of the kingdom of Benin as the rightful owners to whom the looted objects must be returned.
As one media news source states online, “with this official gazette, the dispute over the ownership, custody and management of the repatriated looted Benin artefacts between the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, and Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has finally been laid to rest.”
The Federal Government has laid to rest the funny business that British Museum has been insinuating regarding returning the #BeninBronzes, which is that they want to not return but ‘loan’ between state of uk and state of NGN, as if the #BeninBronzes are in British possession by legitimate means. Shame on you, British Museum; do the right thing and return the stolen sacred and artistic works of the Benin Kingdom looted in the illegal 1897 War on Benin, when our city and our heritage were looted and our homes and buildings burned and women, men and children murdered by aid of your best weapons of mass destruction of the day.
All looted artefacts of 1897, of which there are tens of thousands, are the property of the Oba of Benin and are to be returned to the Oba of Benin. No looted art repatriated will go to any fictional or real ‘emowaa’, whether as the condescendingly deceitful plan of ‘loan’ or as some continuation of fictional protocols concocted by the British.
As for the governor, our understanding is that Obaseki has long since apologized to the Oba, Oba Ewaure II (Oba gha’tokpe, Isee). We the Edo, as Edo-speaking people, as Benins, forgive the governor and urge him to focus on his job as governor. Like many states in the ‘South South’ region no doubt, Edo State has endured a history of marginalization and is in great need of much focus and hands on development from its governor and government.
Obaseki may choose to return the paltry sum of $3m allegedly given to him by the Brits (as per their own submission, which they posted online). Or, the governor may indeed decide to go ahead and actually build his museum. If he wants our advice, we say, go ahead and build your ‘emowaa’ as your legacy, Obaseki! There is plenty of art from all over Edo and the rest of West Africa to fill up such a museum.
Whatever the governor decides, it has nothing to do with the looted arts of 1897 collectively termed #BeninBronzes. In any case, a true son of the soil will support and try with all at his disposal to see that the BENIN ROYAL MUSEUM comes to fruition as a world class reality.
All #BeninBronzes currently held by the British Museum or anyone else, whether private or institution, must be repatriated to the kingdom of Benin i.e. to the people of the ancient and still existing Kingdom of Benin whose sole representative by divine right is the Oba of Benin, omo n’oba ne Edo, uku apkolopkolo, Oba gha tokpe iseee.
Let us build BENIN ROYAL MUSEUM to contain, maintain and conserve and inspire as we move on into the future.
— from all of us here at Architecture of Unforgetting