Benin. Retrospective. The collection at the Weltkulturen Museum

The objects known as the “Benin Bronzes” from present-day Nigeria occupy a central role in the debate about the restitution of cultural goods. The collection of the Weltkulturen Museum also contains over fifty objects made of metal, wood and ivory from the Kingdom of Benin (Nigeria). When and under what circumstances did they enter the collection of what was then known as the Völkermuseum?

A research project into provenance funded by the German Lost Art Foundation has been conducted at the Frankfurt museum in order to address these questions, exploring the complex ownership status behind these objects. While the first exhibition provides an insight into the research by means of biographies and archival material, the second exhibition “Perspectives” (11 Octobre - 31 Decembre 2023) will focus on various perspectives from Nigeria.