Obaseki plans cultural district for stolen artifacts returned to Edo

Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo on Friday said the state has concluded plans to carve out a cultural district in Benin, where the Edo Museum of West Africa Arts (EMOWAA) would be located.

Obaseki said this during the 2021 National Council for Museum and Monuments Management retreat held in Benin.

He said EMOWAA project would be home for stolen artifacts and will serve as a platform for the display of Benin arts collections across the world.

Noting that the EMOWA project would enhance preservation and safety of the Benin artifacts returned from Europe, the governor said museums should not only be about outdated objects, but should also be about current and future objects.

He also called on Nigerians to speak with a unifying voice, as, according to him, disagreements within the stakeholders would send a wrong signal to those in custody of the artifacts.

“We want all of us to speak with one voice, the world is waiting to see that the blacks cannot organise themselves

“So that they can take it as an excuse not to return the works. I do not think we should allow that to happen.

“All of us must rally round, come together and speak with one voice so that they return our artifacts

“When the artifacts are returned, whatever reservations we have, we will address it at home,” he said.

The governor, who commended the federal government’s role in facilitating the return of the artifacts, said the British museum has made funds available to undertake archeological survey.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the artifacts were reportedly taken away during the British invasion of Benin Kingdom in 1897 and the items are said to be in several museums across Europe. (NAN)