Benin National Congress

Benin Artifacts are prisoners of war A press release by the Benin National Congress- Edo Socio-cultural Organization.

In view of the on going exhibition of Benin artifacts in Chicago most of whom were looted during the British invasion of the ancient kingdom of Benin and others which were victims of “authority stealing” (those stolen from the custody of Benin Museum) we wish to posit that the continuous hostage of these metaphysical objects by Britain amounts to holding – back the prisoners of war over 100yrs after the war ended

The ministry of tourism is using the objects continuous incarceration for selfish interest- as a means of traveling abroad on the guise of seeking their release and exhibition. We condemn in strong term the yes – man attitude of the National Commission for Museum and Monuments NCMM in which they refused to employ radical measures in the reparation campaign. In our view, this is a tacit endorsement of the continuous incarceration the objects. UNESCO has not helped matters because it prescribed conditions are very stringent and almost insurmountable. We expect to make a peaceful protest for the release of the objects but intelligent information available to us indicate that they are taking advantage of the jamboree, this is perhaps so because a Benin man is not the curator of Benin Museum or Director.

The Chicago jamboree is to us a moment of sober reflection because those charged with the task of securing and protecting the objects have been caught in the frenzy offered by the foreign groups thereby conspiring against the objects that defeated colonial theory of civilization, what an irony. We call for the immediate and unconditional dissolution of the NCMM because it cannot achieve its aims as presently constituted; and we smell fraud it its avowed commitment. As we speak, the B.N.C has not been copied with the reports of various panels were it appeared on the investigation of allegation of the looting of Benin artifacts worth 100million dollars. They cannot try this in other states, boys will keep them somewhere!



Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo – President