The restitution agreement covers objects seized during the 1897 British invasion of the Kingdom of Benin, although six will remain in Sweden under a 10-year loan arrangement

Sweden has transferred ownership of 39 artifacts looted from the historic Kingdom of Benin to Nigeria, marking another restitution of cultural objects taken during colonial-era military campaigns.

Agreement signed in Lagos

The agreement was signed in Lagos on Nov. 5 by Olugbile Holloway, director-general of Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), and Britta Söderqvist, head of Sweden’s National Museums of World Culture. The institution held the artifacts in its collections before the transfer.

Taken in the 1897 invasion of Benin City

The objects were among thousands of cultural treasures seized by British troops during the 1897 invasion of Benin City, which brought the Kingdom of Benin under British control.

The collection includes works associated with the Edo people’s royal traditions, religious practices and artistic heritage.

Six pieces stay in Sweden on loan

Although Nigeria now holds legal ownership of all 39 objects, six will remain in Sweden under a 10-year loan agreement with the National Museums of World Culture.

The arrangement allows the Swedish institution to continue displaying and studying those pieces while recognizing Nigeria’s ownership.

A growing wave of restitutions

The return adds to a growing number of international restitution agreements involving Benin artifacts. In June 2026, Switzerland formally transferred 18 objects to Nigeria, while the Netherlands returned 119 artifacts in 2025. Germany also handed over a significant collection of Benin Bronzes in 2022.

The NCMM is working with the royal court in Benin City to receive the returned objects. The latest agreement adds to efforts by Nigerian authorities and the Benin Palace to recover cultural heritage dispersed across foreign museum collections following the 1897 invasion.