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American government has returned 63 looted Benin bronzes to Nigeria – Charge d’Affairs
Recalling the events that laid the foundation for the collaboration, the Charged’ Affairs said, “The history centers around the US Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation from which we have provided$1.5million for 14 projects across 21 states since 2001.
The Acting America Ambassador and Charge D’ Affairs in Nigeria, Mr David Greene on Thursday disclosed that between October 2022 and and December 2023, the United States government repatriated 63 looted Benin Bronzes to Nigeria.
Speaking at the MOU signing ceremony for the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation in Abuja, the Charge d’ Affairs said the successful repatriation is a fallout of the partnership agreement between the US and Nigeria signed on Bilateral Cultural Property.
“With that, we intensified joint efforts to identify, intercept and repatriate looted, or other displaced cultural property and related works. These efforts paved the way for the official tansfer in October 2022 of 22 Bening Bronzes back to Nigeria”, he said.
“I am pleased to report that since 2022, the number has grown, and now a total of 63 Benin Bronzes have been successfully repatriated to Nigeria.
Expatiating on the MoU for the implementation of the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation Grant, Mr Greene said, “Recently, we awarded this AFCP grant to the International Council on Monuments and Sites in Nigeria, or ICOMOS-Nigeria.
“Its purpose is to document, conserve and improve the cultural heritage of the Sukur UNESCO World Heritage Site in Adamawa State.
Recalling the events that laid the foundation for the collaboration, the Charged’ Affairs said, “The history centers around the US Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation from which we have provided$1.5million for 14 projects across 21 states since 2001.
“We are so proud that with our Nigerian partners, we have been able to preserve culturally, significant art, sites and other heritage items”.
“One outstanding example, in 2020 we awarded the US non-profit organization, CyArk a $125,000 grant to digitally survey and document the Busanyin Shrine within the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove.
“The effort created a digital record of the shrine to use in planning future projects and preservation initiatives, and at the same time provided training in digital tools and cultural heritage management for local professionals.
On the Sukur site located in Adamawa State, Mr Greene said, “Our latest AFCP grant will support ICOMOS-Nigeria and its partners to help preserve Sukur Cultural Heritage throughbinfrastructural enhancements, revival of threatened traditional crafts and documentation as well as preservation of the Sukur language.
Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, The President of ICOMOS-Nigeria, Dr. Mrs Sogbesan, the Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University and Dr. Salisu Lawal who represented the President of American University of Nigeria, Yola joined the US Charge d’ Affairs in signing the MoU.
