Benin welcomes back over 30 royal artefacts taken from the West African country more than 130 years ago during France’s colonial occupation.
President Patrice Talon of Benin and the country’s cultural minister travelled to Paris on Tuesday to bring the 26 artefacts back to Benin, as part of French President Emmanuel Macron’s effort to restore African heritage.
Hundreds of people gathered at Cotonou airport, Benin’s economic hub, to pay respect, dance, and celebrate the arrival of the aircraft bringing the royal treasures on Wednesday afternoon.
The repatriation of the Abomey palace relics, which include three totemic sculptures, comes as pressure mounts in Africa for Western nations to restore colonial riches.
The Quai Branly museum in Paris has the majority of them, and it has launched an examination of its collection to identify pieces that some claim were obtained by violence or force.
Last year, French legislators enacted legislation enabling Paris to return antiques to Benin and Senegal, both of which were formerly French colonies.
Talon has recently said that Tuesday’s delivery was just the first stage in a larger restitution plan.
Other African nations have also requested the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany to return missing valuables.
Last month, Nigeria said that it had reached an agreement with Germany to restore hundreds of so-called Benin Bronzes, which are metal plaques and sculptures from the 16th to 18th century that were taken from the ancient Benin Kingdom’s capital in modern-day Nigeria.
