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Context: The prestigious Smithsonian museum has announced it will return most of its collection of Benin Bronzes to their homeland Nigeria. It comes amid renewed calls worldwide for western museums to return plundered artefacts to their countries of origin.

• The Smithsonian has legal title to own all the artefacts, but it is returning them by working on a new policy of ethical returns.

What are the Benin Bronzes?

• Benin Bronzes are a group of over 3,000 sculptures and artworks from the ancient Kingdom of Benin in present-day Nigeria, that dates back to at least the 16th century.
• They were looted by British colonial forces during the infamous raid on Benin City in 1897.
• These artefacts provide insight into the culture of the Benin Kingdom as well as its relationships with neighbouring states. Some of these pieces also point to the kingdom’s relationship with Europeans.
• Nigerian historians and activists have long been trying to get them back.

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bhubaneswar/asi-writes-to-odisha-govt-warns-of-threats-to-puri-heritage-project-7814305/

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