The "Benin Bronzes" have returned home

"We now bid them a fond farewell as they settle back in and reacquaint themselves with life back home", Alice Hertzog said in her speech in front of 100 guests. The director of our museum accompanied the artefacts' journey, together with curator Africa Alexis Malefakis and general manager Barbara Welter Thaler.

All 14 "Benin Bronzes" from our museum arrived back in Nigeria, together with two artefacts each from the Museum Rietberg in Zurich and the Musée d’ethnographie de Genève MEG. The unlawful acquisition of these artefacts had been brought to light by collaborative provenance research undertaken as part of the Benin Initiative Switzerland BIS. The museums' governing bodies – the University of Zurich and the cities of Zurich and Geneva – signed the transfer of ownership in spring this year.

Yesterday's ceremony at the National Museum in Lagos was attended by numerous representatives of the participating institutions and the two countries. Alongside Olugbile Holloway from the National Commission for Museums and Monuments NCMM and the directors of the three museums – Annette Bhagwati (Museum Rietberg), Carine Ayélé Durand (MEG) and Alice Hertzog – Nigeria's Minister of Culture, Hannatu Musa Musawa, and Swiss Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider were present.

At the ceremony, the Minister of Culture and the Federal Councillor signed an agreement on preventing the illicit transfer of cultural property. The working relationships forged through the Benin Initiative Switzerland BIS had helped build the trust and mutual understanding, contributing to the agreement on the transfer of cultural property between Switzerland and Nigeria, the joint media release said. The BIS was supported by the Swiss Federal Office of Culture.

Prior to joining us, Alice Hertzog conducted research on the "Benin Bronzes" in eight museums within the said initiative. The physical return of these objects today marks a milestone in her museum leadership, highlighting the societal impact of collaborative research. We commit to maintaining this participatory focus in our work.

Read thejoint media release of 29 June 2026, issued by the Swiss Confederation, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Musée d’ethnographie de Genève (MEG), the Rietberg Museum and the Ethnographic Museum at the University of Zurich.

Read our news article about the transfer of ownership, signed on 20 March 2026.

The Benin artefacts formerly in our collection were on display in the exhibition  "Benin Dues", which ran until 8 March 2026.

_{Pictures from the ceremony on 29 Juni 2026 at the National Museum in Lagos, Nigeria. Photos: Afrikafun, Thobix}

_{Impressions from the unpacking at the National Museum in Lagos, Nigeria. Photos: Afrikafun, Thobix / team Ethnographic Museum UZH}

(Selection of English articles; find more on the German site)

The Guardian Nigeria 3 July 2026, Article, "Benin Monarch takes custody of 18 looted artefacts from Switzerland"

artnet 30 June 2026, Article, "Switzerland Returns 18 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria"

Ancient Origins 30 June 2026, Article by Gary Manners, "Swiss Museums Return Looted Benin Bronzes to Nigeria in Historic Restitution"

ArtDependence 30 June 2026, Article, "Switzerland returns Benin Bronzes to Nigeria"

eNCS 30 June 2026, Article , "Switzerland returns famed Benin Bronzes to Nigeria"

AriseTV 30 June 2026, Article by Faridah Abdulkadiri, "Switzerland Returns Looted Benin Artefacts, Signs Heritage Pact With Nigeria"

Channels TV 29 June 2026, Article, "Swiss Museums Return 18 Benin Artefacts To Nigeria"

Opinion Nigeria 29 June 2026, Article, "Switzerland Returns 18 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria»"

Listen to museum director Prof. Dr. Alice Hertzog telling the story of 14 "Benin Bronzes": How they were looted in the Kingdom of Benin, why they ended up in a Swiss museum, and how collaborative research ultimately paved the way to their restitution.