In 1897, thousands of artworks were taken from a powerful African kingdom.
They were not discovered.
They were not traded.
They were taken.
These works are known today as the Benin Bronzes — created by master artists of the Kingdom of Benin between the 15th and 19th centuries.
During a British military expedition, Benin City was invaded, burned, and looted. Thousands of sculptures, plaques, and sacred objects were removed and sent across Europe.
Today, many of these works are still held in museums outside Africa.
But that is changing.
Countries like Germany and the Netherlands have begun returning some of these artefacts, while others continue to debate ownership, responsibility, and restitution.
This is not just a story about art.
It is a story about power, history, and who gets to tell it.