In a historic and symbolic gesture, the University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art has returned two looted Benin bronzes to the Oba of Benin, the royal ruler of the former Benin Empire. This marks the first time a US museum has repatriated artifacts directly to the head of the royal family. The restitution ceremony took place on 15 July at the Benin Palace in Nigeria, where the museum handed over a brass plaque and a wooden altarpiece to Oba Ewuare II.
The return of the Benin bronzes is a significant moment in the ongoing efforts to address the colonial-era looting of African heritage. In 1897, British troops plundered the Royal Palace of Benin, resulting in the dispersal of over 3,000 artifacts worldwide. The Kingdom of Benin was subsequently incorporated into the British protectorate of Nigeria, which gained independence in 1960.
Last year, the Nigerian government officially recognized Oba Ewuare II as the rightful owner and custodian of the looted artifacts, altering the dynamics of restitution efforts. This recognition has led to varying approaches to repatriation. Germany’s decision to return 22 Benin bronzes to Nigeria in 2022 sparked concerns about the accessibility of these cultural treasures if they enter private collections.
Lauren Lessing, director of the Stanley Museum of Art, addressed these concerns by affirming the rightful ownership of the artifacts. “It is not my job to tell people what to do with their own possessions. The two works of art restituted were stolen from the Oba of Benin in 1897, and they belong to him,” Lessing stated. She further added, “The best way for museums to ensure that the public can see these works in the future is to approach the Oba, as they would any other potential lender, and ask.”

Photo: Omoregie Osakpolor. Courtesy Stanley Museum of Art
In 2019, the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) began creating guidelines for the management of looted African art in US museum collections. Despite this, the Stanley Museum of Art, under the guidance of Dr. Cory Gundlach, the museum’s curator of African art, chose a different path by focusing on the restitution to the royal family rather than the Nigerian government.
The museum’s dedicated provenance research position, established in 2020 and filled by Mason Koelm, was crucial in tracing the objects back to the 1897 British siege. Collaborations with Peju Layiwola, a leading scholar on African art restitution, and Prince Aghatise Erediauwa of the Benin Royal Court, further bolstered the museum’s restitution efforts.
Kevin Kregel, the executive vice president and provost at the University of Iowa, praised the museum’s commitment to ethical stewardship, stating, “By returning these cultural treasures, the University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art has demonstrated its commitment to ethical stewardship and set a powerful example for other museums to follow.”
The Smithsonian Institution’s 2022 decision to deaccession 29 Benin bronzes to Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments is part of a growing trend. These actions add pressure on institutions like the British Museum, which holds approximately 900 pieces from the Kingdom of Benin, to follow suit. The British Museum, however, is currently restricted by a 1963 UK law from permanently removing items from its collection.
Nicholas Cullinan, the newly appointed director of the British Museum, discussed the institution’s approach to restitution in an interview with the BBC. He highlighted the necessity for parliamentary involvement in any changes to the 1963 law and emphasized collaboration with global institutions to share knowledge and expertise.
This restitution by the University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art underscores a significant shift in how institutions handle looted artifacts, setting a precedent for future actions regarding the rightful return of cultural heritage.