The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (SPK) has finalized the repatriation of a rare set of 17th-century Oyo Empire ivory carvings to Nigeria. These artifacts, which depict royal court life and diplomatic rituals, were taken during late 19th-century colonial expeditions and have been held in Berlin's state museums for over a century.
The return is part of a broader German initiative to restore cultural heritage to West African nations. Nigerian officials indicated that these ivories will be placed in the National Museum of Oyo, where they will serve as primary educational tools for understanding the artistic and political history of one of West Africa's most influential pre-colonial states.