New Nation: Return our ‘stolen’ treasure demand

About this item

This document reports on a campaign held in London demanding the return of cultural treasures taken from the ancient Kingdom of Benin in mid-western Nigeria by British forces over a century ago. The artifacts, currently held in the British Museum and other institutions, symbolize both cultural heritage and historical injustice. The campaign calls for the repatriation of these items to their rightful home as a matter of justice and recognition of African artistic origins.

Key points:
– The artifacts were taken from the Kingdom of Benin during British military invasion about 100 years ago and are now housed in the British Museum.
– A campaign was launched in London to mark the centenary of this event and to pressure the British government and museums to return the stolen treasures to Nigeria.
– Bernie Grant, the Tottenham MP, publicly supported the campaign, expressing hope for the return of stolen works from private museums despite legal challenges.
– Benin national Veralin Omogiafo emphasized the cultural and spiritual significance of the artifacts, describing their removal as a theft of pride.
– Anthony Aboiralor, chairman of the Edo State Centenary, highlighted the desire for Nigerian children to see these artifacts in their country to learn about African contributions to the arts.

Bernie Grant was a key figure in Black British politics and anti-racism activism, including campaigns for cultural justice such as the return of African heritage objects. This document situates him within efforts to address historical injustices linked to colonial plunder, linking local government advocacy to broader international campaigns for reparations and recognition of Black cultural identity.

Source note: The OCR transcript contains minor errors and some spelling inconsistencies, but the core message and key names are clear enough to interpret the document’s significance accurately.