To cheers and with a fanfare of trumpets, Cambridge University officially handed Nigeria a bronze rooster sculpture looted a century ago on Wednesday, becoming the first British institution to return an item stolen during colonization.
A delegation of Nigerian officials received at this highly symbolic ceremony organized by Jesus College Cambridge this fine sculpture, known as
Okukor
, the culmination of a procedure triggered by a student protest in 2016.
To read also Emmanuel Macron assures that the restitutions of African heritage will not be the "deed of the prince"
The work of art, donated in 1905 by a British soldier, father of a student, is one of hundreds of sculptures, engravings and bronzes looted in 1897 in the kingdom of Benin, which today corresponds to the southwest of Nigeria.
Read alsoThe Met will return to Nigeria two bronzes looted in the 19th century
"
I am really proud that we are the first institution to follow through on this moral imperative to make Benin a bronze
," college director Sonita Alleyne told AFP.
“
We are delighted that it is now in the hands of its rightful owner,
” she said during the ceremony, hailing a “
truly historic event
”.
Read also Works of art looted by British settlers returned
His institution withdrew in 2016 the rooster, which once decorated the refectory, after a campaign led by some of its students against symbols recalling the British colonial past.
An exemplary restitution
At the end of the ceremony, the Nigerian delegation - composed among others of Aghatise Erediauwa, brother of the Oba of Benin - waved the bronze to cheers and applause.
“
Thank you for this wonderful initiative.
The Nigerian people are grateful to you,
”said Ambassador to the United Kingdom Sarafa Tunji Isola, conveying the thanks of Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari.
"
Glad to see that this ancient object, which has been removed from Nigeria for decades, is in excellent condition,
" said Prof. Abba Isa Tijani, director of the Nigerian National Commission for Museums and Monuments. Before concluding that the act of Jesus college was "
a great example for other institutions and other countries
".
Certain European and American institutions have indeed announced their intention to return several looted objects.
Thus, France acts on Wednesday the return to Benin of 26 works from the royal treasures of Abomey, so far kept at the Quai Branly museum in Paris.
Abba Isa Tijani, who is also due to travel to Scotland on Thursday to receive a Beninese bronze from Aberdeen University, urged the British Museum, which has the world's largest collection of bronzes, to follow the same path. which the British institution refuses for the moment.
