The Benin Monarch, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Ewuare II, has commended Jesus College for taking this lead in making restitution of a looted Benin Bronze Cockerel by British Colonial Forces in 1897, given to the college in 1905 by the father of a student of the institution.

Oba Ewuare II also expresss hope that others will follow suit in the return of the artworks which in many cases are of religious importance to the Benin Kingdom.

According to the Monarch, “Finally, we wish to thank the student body of Cambridge University for bringing to light the historical significance of this revered piece of the Royal Court of Benin.

The decision to return the artwork to the current Oba of Benin’s Royal Museum comes after a campaign by the college’s students to return it, following the research on the historical, legal and moral status of the college’s ownership of the Bronze by its Legacy of Slavery Working Party LSWP, established in 2019.

The piece is set to be returned to Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) in a ceremony at Jesus College attended by delegates from the commission and Benin, on October 27.

Master of Jesus College Sonita Alleyne said it is ‘a historic moment’ adding, “This is the right thing to do out of respect for the unique heritage and history of this artefact.”

“Since we took the decision to return the Bronze following the college’s Legacy of Slavery Working Party (LSWP) extensive research many organizations have followed in our footsteps.”