In a major step toward historical restitution, the Metropolitan Museum of Art has formally repatriated a set of intricately carved 15th-century ivory tusks to the Nigerian government. These artifacts, originating from the Kingdom of Benin (modern-day Nigeria), were part of a larger collection of cultural treasures looted during the British Punitive Expedition of 1897. The return was finalized during a high-level ceremony in Abuja, attended by Nigerian cultural ministers and representatives from the museum's board of trustees.
The tusks are renowned for their detailed relief carvings that depict the Oba (King) and various court ceremonies, serving as vital historical records of the Bini people's ancestral lineage and spiritual practices. Museum officials stated that the decision follows a multi-year provenance research project aimed at reconciling the institution's collection with ethical standards regarding colonial-era acquisitions. This repatriation is part of a broader agreement that includes long-term loans and collaborative curatorial programs between the Met and Nigeria's forthcoming royal museum.