Political battles break out as the stolen bronzes come home: A $100 million museum to exhibit Benin bronzes looted by British soldiers is opening but few of the artefacts will be on display.

The article focuses on the complex political and cultural disputes surrounding the restitution and exhibition of the Benin Bronzes, a collection of thousands of brass plaques and sculptures looted by British forces from Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, in 1897. Central to the conflict is the rivalry between Edo State’s elected governor and the traditional authority of the Oba of Benin over custodianship of the Bronzes, complicating plans for their display at the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA), a $100 million institution supported by Nigerian and German governments and international partners. Germany has returned over 1,100 Bronzes to Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments, emphasizing that the decision on their final location is an internal Nigerian matter. MOWAA aims to serve as a cultural and research hub while navigating political tensions and ethical debates about restitution, access, and the legacy of colonialism, with ongoing discussions about digital facsimiles and broader reparatory justice.