The London History Show: The Benin Plaques

Old joke: "Why aren't the Pyramids of Giza in the British Museum?" "The ceilings aren't high enough."

As an Edo or Bini (how people from Benin Kingdom are known), please know, our artworks, including the Benin Bronzes, are our historical & cultural documents. They are more than artworks. They depict our history, belief system, politics and lifestyle.

Some good news on this subject. One week ago, the museums of world culture in Sweden, filed a petition to the government to be allowed to return their 39 Benin bronzes, which will probably be permitted, as we have returned objects before.

Scan them and remake them. Give the originals back. Their value to the British is entirely aesthetic, and therefore, it doesn't matter if they're real. The people of Benin may have to recast some to repair all the damage the British did.

As a Nigerian, my heart flutters at the sight of the Benin bronzes. It is so familiar to me ! So much a part of my heritage!!

Thank you for promotion benin culture to the world God bless you madam we the people of edo greet you very much thank you god bless

Germany has now returned a number of Benin bronzes and I believe more are due to follow.

Some Benin sculptures were in Germany. Germany gave them back to Nigeria and financed a local museum with several million Euros. On March 23rd president Buhari signed a decree transfering the ownership from the state to Oba Ewuare II. The planned museum will not be completed. The bronzes will probably never again be seen in public.

All stolen artefacts should be given back to their country of origin no questions asked. If an African nation stole the crown jewels of England the backlash and consequences that the country would face would still be in affect till today.

I love the respect shown to other cultures in this story. It is long past time that history channels also explore non-western history. Great job!!!

Wow...Am stunned at your knowledge of the Benin culture and traditions. Great work

That music at the end... It's so beautiful!!!!!! It's the sound of a rising sun.

It’s amazing that these “trophies of British colonial conquest” are not viewed as more of an embarrassment. Indeed, regardless of country, to many museums tend to flaunt their spoils of conflict instead of returning the culture and history of a defeated and despoiled people. How far different is that from cultural genocide?

EXCELLENT ANALYSIS THIS YOUNG WOMAN HAVE A GOOD INSIGHT OF THE BENIN KINGDOM, EVEN HER PRONUNCIATION OF BININ NAMES IS QUITE OK.

I was at the British Museum in June for the second time in my life (it's a long way from Seattle), and in the 20+ years separating my two visits I had learned a lot about the Benin Plaques. When I walked around the corner this time and saw them it was a really emotional experience. My wife, who hadn't seem them before was struck by their beauty, as was I, but that was tempered by the flood of guilt that they represent. To their credit, the museum has signage that very clearly states the complicated history of all the items in that room, but yikes. In my opinion it would be far more fair to return ill-gotten treasures, but also far more exciting to go to Nigeria to see the treasures (if permitted, of course). Britain has so much culture of their own, the museum would never suffer for subject matter.

You know, here in Portugal we know about the portuguese in the kindgom of Benin, Portugal had Benin nobility studying in the Coimbra university, Benin nobles would stroll around Lisbon and the royal palace.

Thorough. Insightful. Engaging. Balanced. Sober. Enlightening. Thank you. The works that you and your contemporaries are creating is building a new encyclopaedia for generations to come.

Possession of these stolen treasures is a grave dishonour to our country.

Writing an essay of this very case and this was very helpful! Thank u love

The Benin Treasure’s which you see in the Museum it brings my thoughts with sadness they need to give us back our treasures, when you go to see these items always remember many people died in possessing these treasures during the Punitive Vendetta War of 1897, this treasures should of been give back a long time ago as they are symbolic to the Kingdom of which is recognised officially as an Ancient Kingdom of which as existed through to Dynasties the Ogiso Dynasty an the Oba dynasty of which is still in existence,anyway enough of my emotional rant! Hi there J Draper bless for sharing content giving awareness to those whom don’t know how such beautiful tradition an culture of how the Edo Bini Kingdom was rich with history spanning back over 2000 years I just bought the book 📕 on history about Benin Kingdom not to be confused with Benin Republic lol 😂 the author of this rich historical book is Nekpen Obasogie of the Great Benin. Your a great credit of bringing this awareness on your platform ,thank you for your insight ,I have subscribed to your YouTube 🙏🏿😎👍🏿✊🏿