Arts/Literary
As Nigerians Await Return Of Looted Benin Artifacts…
The Benin artifacts are a group of more than a thousand metal plaques and sculptures that decorated the royal palace of the Kingdom of Benin in what is now Nigeria. Collectively, the objects form the best known examples of Benin Art and were created from the 13th century onwards by artistes of the Edo people.
Apart from the plaques, other sculptures in Brass of Bronze include some famous portrait heads, jewellery and other smaller pieces. Most of the plaques and other objects were looted by British forces during the Benin expedition of 1897 as imperial control was being consolidated in southern Nigeria.
Two hundred pieces were taken to the British museum in London, while the rest found their way to other European museum. A large number are held by the British museum with other notable collections in Germany and united states. The Benin Bronze led to a greater appreciation in Europe of African culture and Art.
Initially, it appeared incredible to the discoverers that people “supposedly so primitive and savage” are responsible for such highly developed objects. Some even wrongly concluded that Benin knowledge of metallurgy came from the Portuguese traders who were in contact with Benin in the early modern period, the kingdom of Benin workmanship achieved its highest quality during the period.
While the collection was known as the Benin Bronze like most West African Bronzes, the pieces were mostly made of Brass of variable composition. There were also pieces made of mixtures of Bronze and Brass of wood, of ceramic and of ivory among other materials. The metal pieces were made using cast wax casting and are considered among the best sculptures made using this technique.
However, recent developments have shown that the precious artifacts that were looted during the colonial era will finally be returned to Nigeria, the German government has announced that the first returns are planned for 2022.
In a joint declaration published recently, German’s Ministry of Culture, state ministers and museum directors committed to “Substantive returns of Benin Bronzes, art work made of Bronzes, Brass and Ivory that were looted by the British in a raid in the kingdom of Benin in present day Nigeria in 1897 agreed to return them.
The Bronzes were subsequently distributed across the world and hundreds are currently held in German museums. Nigeria had sought for their return for decades, Germany is now leading in the global restitution movement”.
German culture Minister described the declaration as a historic milestone, “ this decision was a truce with parties, not a win-win or winner takes all, the declaration lays out plans for the first pieces to be returned next year and for a road map to guide additional restitution without specifying which artifacts or how many parties to the agreement have pledged to work with Nigerians partners including the legacy Restoration Trust which is leading the development of the new Edo museum for West African Art in Benin city, Edo state.
The announcement follows a visit by a German government delegation to Nigeria in March this year, after which the Foreign Minister, Heiko Maas signalled support for restitution. Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki who hosted the delegation subsequently announced the launch of a Legacy Restoration Trust and expressed hope that international co-oporation would go beyond the return of the objects.
“We believe that our collaboration should not only transcend to not only returning the works, but also understanding the significance and meaning of those works from our history”, Obaseki stated.
German has also committed to supplying expertise and funding for the new Museum designed by award winning architect David Adjaye and recently launched a knowledge exchange platform for collaboration between German and African museums.
According to Prof. Dan Hicks of Pitt Rivers Museum at the University of Oxford and author of a book on the Benin Bronzes “ This clear statement from such a powerful group of German museum leaders setting out their willingness to make substantive returns of Benin Bronzes will be very welcome to many.
The Bronzes have come to be regarded as among the finest artworks produced in Africa and individual pieces have sold for millions of dollars at auction. Nigeria’s campaign for their return predates the country’s independence in 1960. The issue has often been a source of tention in relations with former colonial powers such as diplomatic incident in 1977 sparked by the British museum’s refusal to return an Ivory mask on loan.
Returning looted artifacts will finally restore heritage to the brilliant cultures that made them. But after decades of little success, there have been signs of movement in recent years. In 2019, the French government commissioned a report recommending that museum artifacts from sub Saharan Africa be made available for restitution claims. The directors from museums in Netherlands have supported calls for a new process for restitution.
A handful of institutions have also acted in their own initiative. The national museum of Ireland recently committed to process for its Bronzes. According to the Times, while the University of Aberdeen has announced it will return a Bronze, United Kingdom laws forbid national museums from returning parts f their collections which has proved a significant barrier.
The British museum which holds the largest collection of bronzes from Benin has been a frequent target for campaign. Despite the setbacks created by the British authorities, there are positive developments in the other parts of the world to return the stolen artifacts back to Benin, Nigeria which would be a dream come true.
By: Jacob Obinna
It is the idea of God that family should exit. Children form part of the family. God loves family so much that Jesus was born into the family of Joseph.
Everyone’s family is good and important. Children should not look down on their family whether they are rich or poor.
Children should respect and honour their family and foster love among their siblings. They should work together and make peace in the family. They should always stand in the gap. It is good for family members to carry all along since everyone may not be doing well.
The Christianity that children learn is practised in family. Faith-based organisations do a great job in moulding children’s character. Those are the behaviours that children exhibit towards siblings in family.
Every child born in a family is there for a purpose. A baby born into a family is supplying something. It may be joy, wealth and so on. Everyone is important in a family.
Adolescents who have graduated from school but may not be contributing financially can do one or two things at home. You can engage in preparing meals at home while parents are away for a job or business. Contributing in house chores will go a long way to relieve parents of stress after a day’s job.
What do you contribute to your family, especially during holidays both in nuclear and extended family?
The family you were born is constant but friends are temporary. You can decide not to continue in friendship but you cannot cut off your family. No matter how bad you think your family is and you decide to leave home, you must surely return. Your friends can harbour you for a while.
The child’s first identity comes from the family. What the child learns first comes from the family.
Family is the centre of love and care. People have started playing down on marriage because of neglect on basics of family. Marriage starts today and and the next few months, it is threatened. Respect for family plays a crucial role in marriage.
No child grows without parental control and influence. If a child refuses to grow without taking instructions from parents, he may grow up being wild. There are consequences when children do not obey their parents. There are those who want to be rebellious against their parents. They should know that their length of days are tied to their parents.
Your bioligical parents know you more than every other person. There is the wisdom and knowledge your parents have that you do not so it is proper to listen to them before choosing carriers both in academics and job. A young man or woman can choose who to get married to, but a greater role in the choice of who to marry and the marriage proper comes from the parents.
They know what is best for you. No matter how modern trends will influence you and prove it wrong, parent is the key. No one can love you more than your parents because they are your blood.
A lot of parents have been traumatised due to the fact that children they nurtured and trained turned their back on them at older age. Children should not abandon their parents for any reason.
As you grow up, situations may arise in marriage when you decide it is over with your spouse, but no matter the level of provocation with your parents, they will not despise you. Parents will also play a role in that regard. Problem arises in every family but how it is handled matters a lot.
Some children honour their mentors more than their parents. Although there are parents who shy away from their responsibilities. It is important that parents take full responsibility of their children. You cannot bring a child to the planet earth and refuse to perform roles as a parent. But parents may not quantify what they spent from childhood to adolescence. That is a blessing children cannot get from another person.
There are people who have attributed their failure in life to the fact that their parents, especially mothers are witchcraft. It is wrong to feel that your mother is instrumental to your failure in life. The only way to success is hardwork.
Let money not determine the level of love for your parents. Wherever a child goes, family is constant.
Eunice Choko-Kayode
Naturally, when a child is born, it is the role of the father and mother to decide a suitable name for the child. The husband and wife normally discuss and suggest the English or vernacular name of the baby.
But sometimes, when a baby comes into a family, grandparents hearts are usually filled with joy to the extent that they want to answer present, by giving their own names not minding the fact that the biological parents have given theirs.
This happens mostly when the marriage is an inter-tribal one. It also happens even in intra-tribal marriage. Grandparents want equal representation as far as naming a child is concerned. They also have special names as a result of circumstances surrounding the birth of the child.
This is still happening till date.
A lot of people have viewed this in different ways but there is nothing wrong about it. The most important thing is that the child bears as many names as he or she can. But one thing is certain, the child must bear one name in school.
Should circumstance determine a child’s name?
Women who are more emotional are always eager to name their children considering the circumstances surrounding the child’s conception and arrival.
The issue of grandparents naming a child comes up mostly when it is the first of the family.
In naming children by some parents in the olden days, they named their children according to the days in the week in which they were born, like Sunday, Monday, Friday and so on.
You may be shocked to hear that whether a child is given 10 names by parents or grandparents, when he or she grows up, will decide to change. There are several cases where some persons decided to change especially when they feel that the names given by their parents and grandparents do not give them joy. If they are not doing well in life, they may claim that their misfortune is caused by the name their parents.
Competition among children in schools be it primary, (kindergarten) and secondary come in different forms. It can be Mathematics , debate, quiz, spelling bee,competition, from organisations like Cowbell, multi-national companies, faith-based organisations among others.
They are organised mostly for selected intelligent ones, the best among their peers to represent a class, school or group. Prizes are normally set aside for the best as well as consolation prizes for runners-up at the end of each session.
The question is, are children willing to accept defeat when they fail? As parents, guardians, can you encourage your children or wards to accept defeat instead of shouting and comparing them with others who may be performing better either in schools or outside.
Some parents may be blaming their children for not doing well in competitions. They will like to tell their children if others who may perform better have ten heads. Those group of parents blame their children for every failure.
For your children to do better in competition, the parents too must have emotional intelligence. When you continue to blame your children for failure, how intelligent are you?
Some parents always want their children to be in the 1st position and unhappy whenever they secure 2nd position. There were instances where children smashed their trophies because they never got the position they wanted to get and their parents supported them.
Children should be able to accept it whether they win or not. They should be encouraged for every performance. Discourage the issue of “shame, shame, shame, shame”.
A parent says she always tells her children to win even if they will fail. Always give them the mentality that they can win. Children should be given the impression that they can win prizes and laurels in every competition.
Parents should not isolate their children from others in the neighbourhood. Allow them to play with others. Don’t threaten your children that you may not pay their schools fees if they fail. Comparing them with others may encourage or discourage them.
Coming first or getting award as a first class student from the university sometimes does not mean that the person is the best. And if the child does not merit any award in the lower classes, does not mean that he can not merit first class also.
It should be noted that coming first in academic competition may not really mean that the competitor will be the best at work place or business.
Accepting defeat is a way to move higher. Even if a child who competed with others did not come first, there are consolation prizes for runners-up. When you advise the child to accept defeat, you are encouraging her to win in next competition.
Remember all children cannot be on the same knowledge level Their learning abilities defer.
Eunice Choko-Kayode
