One of the most iconic artworks from the old Benin Kingdom (a 16th century ivory mask, pictured here) stolen during the British “Punitive Expedition” of 1897 has now been put up for sale by a private “collector” in London for almost to 5 million pounds. (The details are here).
I don’t know what is more disgusting, calling a stolen artwork a “collected” artwork or offering same for sale when the real owners have spent years advocating for its return. This particular art piece is only one of the many that have been in the possession of the British museum for decades. This one is peculiar for being in private hands of descendants of the British soldiers who looted Benin and made away with its treasures.
A Nigerian activist Kayode Ogundamisi is now calling for signatories to a petition to stop the sale, and get the iconic mask (forcibly taken away during the dark days of colonialism and exploitation in Nigeria) returned to the country, or something. Please find details of the appeal here and see how you can help.
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Nneoma at http://www.pyoowata.com
Just signed the petition, funny, just hours after viewing the same pendant at the British Museum. But would like for you to expand on what you mean by getting the mask “returned to the country, or something” …particuarly the something part. How is this mask any different from the thousands of other artifacts, including those of Benin city or Ife, that were plundered and now sit pretty in Western museums. check out the recent conflagaration with Yale and Peru with the Macchu Picchu artifacts from few weeks ago and lessons to be learned from that success story.
Posted at December 23, 2010 on 4:31pm.
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Kola at http://www.ktravula.com
Hey Nne. Thanks for your comment and for taking the time to sign the petition.
I’d put the “or something” in the post to indicate that the open-endedness of the many possibilities for the stolen artwork in a foreign land, and to elicit comments such as yours :). As far as I am concerned, all stolen artifacts should be returned to where they were stolen from. It’s might be harder to imagine the British Museum letting go of the ones they presently have than thinking of the many things we can do with one of such value as this still remaining in private hands.
Posted at December 23, 2010 on 4:59pm.
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Kola at http://www.ktravula.com
And how about a guest-post from your visit to the British Museum?
Posted at December 23, 2010 on 5:13pm.