The Benin Bronzes
I can explain what the Benin Bronzes are, where many of them can be found today and what Nigeria has requested of the British Museum.
The Benin Bronzes
I can explain what the Benin Bronzes are, where many of them can be found today and what Nigeria has requested of the British Museum.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- For almost 125 years roughly 5,000 bronze artifacts have been exhibited in museums across the world.
- They were produced in the historic West African Kingdom of Benin which was located in what is now Nigeria.
- In the British Museum in London there are hundreds of these objects.
- In 2021 the British Museum received a request from Nigeria to return the bronzes.
- So far, the British Museum has not returned the bronzes, which has caused lots of arguments.
Keywords
Benin - Benin, or the Kingdom of Benin, was a kingdom within what is now southern Nigeria and home to the Edo people
Artefact - an artefact is an item of historical interest made by people in the past
Nigeria - Nigeria is a large West African country situated on the Atlantic Ocean
Heritage - a heritage is the history, traditions, and artefacts that are handed down by previous generations
Repatriation - repatriation means to send something back to the country it came from
Common misconception
The modern republic of Benin and the kingdom of Benin are the same place.
The modern republic of Benin has no historical relation to the kingdom of Benin.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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