The Acting American Ambassador and Charge d’Affairs in Nigeria, Mr. David Greene, announced on Thursday the successful repatriation of 63 looted Benin Bronzes from the United States to Nigeria between October 2022 and December 2023.
The announcement took place during the MOU signing ceremony for the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation in Nigeria. The repatriation is a result of the partnership agreement between the US and Nigeria signed on Bilateral Cultural Property.
Greene highlighted the joint efforts to identify, intercept, and repatriate looted cultural property, leading to the official transfer of 22 Benin Bronzes in October 2022, with a total of 63 now successfully repatriated to Nigeria. He stated,
“Building on twenty years of AFCP grants, in 2021, the United States and Nigeria signed the bilateral Cultural Property Agreement. With that, we intensified joint efforts to identify, intercept, and repatriate looted, or other displaced cultural property and related heritage works. These efforts paved the way for the official transfer in October 2022 of twenty-two Benin Bronzes back to Nigeria. I am pleased to report that since 2022, the number has grown, and now a total of sixty-three Benin Bronzes have been successfully repatriated to Nigeria.”
He also emphasized the ongoing collaboration between the US and Nigerian partners in preserving culturally significant art, sites, and heritage items.
Furthermore, Greene discussed the Memorandum of Understanding for the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation Grant, recently awarded to the International Council on Monuments and Sites in Nigeria (ICOMOS-Nigeria).
This grant aims to document, conserve, and improve the cultural heritage of the Sukur UNESCO World Heritage Site in Adamawa State.
The grant will contribute to protecting Sukur’s traditional cultural heritage, revive threatened traditional crafts, and address security, economic, and social stability in the community impacted by Boko Haram.
The project also aims to promote tourism, economic growth, and the development of Nigeria’s creative and cultural industries. The preservation and enhancement of the Sukur cultural heritage are expected to increase its tourist appeal, attracting both national and international visitors.
