Harvard’s Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology has officially transferred ownership of a collection of intricate bronze vessels dating back to the Igbo-Ukwu culture. These artifacts, renowned for their sophisticated leaded bronze casting techniques and detailed geometric designs, were originally acquired during the British colonial period and have been held by the university for decades.
The repatriation follows a multi-year provenance study and dialogue with the Nigerian National Commission for Museums and Monuments. The vessels are considered some of the finest examples of pre-colonial African metalwork, reflecting a high level of economic and technical complexity in 10th-century West Africa. The objects will be housed in the new Edo Museum of West African Art (EMOWAA) in Benin City.