Connect with us

Culture

Germany hands over 20 looted Benin bronzes to Nigeria

Published

on

The German government on Tuesday, handed over 20 bronze artefacts looted from the Benin Kingdom by British soldiers in 1897, to the Nigerian government.

Making the handover of the artefacts to Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, said the gesture was the latest effort by the European country to return cultural artefacts to their African homeland.

Baerbock said the handover of the artefacts were the clearest sign of growing momentum towards the return of artefacts taken away from Africa by Europeans during the colonial period.

The return of the prized bronzes followed an agreement signed between Nigeria and Germany earlier this year with the European nation signing a declaration with Nigeria to release over 1,130 Benin bronzes currently in German public museums, to Nigeria.

“Today, we are taking a step that was long overdue: We are returning 20 Benin bronzes from German museums to where they belong, to their homeland,” Baerbock said at the handover ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

Some of the Benin Bronze artefacts had been in German custody for nearly two centuries after they were looted by British soldiers during a raid on the Kingdom of Benin in 1897.

The Bronze’s were auctioned off and then spread among institutions from New Zealand to Germany and the United States, with the biggest collection in London.

Culture

Zimbabwe calls on UK to return remains of 19th century warriors

Published

on

The Zimbabwean government has renewed its call on the United Kingdom to repatriate the remains of its 19th century warriors who were taken away by the British colonial masters after they rose up against colonial rule.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa who made the call during a speech at the burial of independence hero, Jaison Chirinda, who died on October 27 aged 82, said the move to repatriate the remains of the warriors was part of mounting pressure on Western countries and museums to return African artefacts and historical pieces plundered during the colonial era by powers such as Belgium, Britain, France and Germany.

“We remind the British government and people that the spirits of our heroes will not rest until their remains are repatriated and interred in a dignified way,” Mnangagwa.

He specifically mentioned anti-colonial hero King Lobengula, who was forced into exile, as well as Mbuya Nehanda and Sekuru Kaguvi, who were executed by hanging for resisting colonial rule.

“Equally, the remains of our brave warriors such as Chief Chiwashira, Chief Chingaira, Chief Mapondera and Chief Mashayamombe are still held in British museums as trophies, after they were captured and killed in horrific circumstances,” Mnangagwa added.

Mnangagwa also demanded an apology from the British government for colonial atrocities they committed.

“We demand an apology and reparations from the British government,” he insisted.

He also noted that Zimbabwe believes the remains were taken to the United Kingdom as war trophies and are being used for research at Cambridge University and London’s Natural History Museum.

Investigations over the years have revealed that the Natural History Museum in the UK holds over 25,000 human remains, with a number of pieces originating from Zimbabwe.

Two years ago, the British institutions announced that they were ready to cooperate, after a Zimbabwean delegation visited the country for talks but the issue has been topical for over a decade with the British revealing that discussions on the subject began in 2014.

The British control ended in 1965, but the local white minority ruled Zimbabwe, then known as Rhodesia, until 1980, when it was renamed Zimbabwe following a guerilla warfare often referred to as the “Rhodesian Bush War.”

Continue Reading

Culture

Ghanaians react angrily as American video vixen Rubi Rose tours Jubilee House

Published

on

Some Ghanaians have been outraged following a tour of the Jubilee House, the country’s seat of government, by American entertainer and video vixen, Rubi Rose.

The visit and tour of the Jubilee House by the controversial vixen, rapper, and OnlyFans content creator who arrived in Ghana on Thursday, October 31, 2024, sparked outrage and angry reactions among Ghanaians on social media who questioned the rationale behind the visit.

The American star was a special guest for a Halloween party in Accra and during her stay, was granted access to the Jubilee House, where she met with Nadia Adongo Musah, Deputy Director of Diaspora Affairs at the Office of the President, and was given a tour of the premises.

Photos of Rose’s visit to the Jubilee House circulated on social media, prompting discontent among Ghanaians, who questioned why someone with her background was allowed into the Jubilee House, also known as Flagstaff House, which holds significant historical and symbolic value as the seat of Ghana’s presidency.

Some angry Ghanaians took to social media to voice out their discontents.

A X user with the handle @fanti_boy wrote:

“Is this really Kwame Nkrumah’s Ghana?”

Another user, @_blacksnow09, said:

“Foreigners have more access to the presidential residence than citizens.”

@CopsonClaude commented:

“The Jubilee House is now Oasis Lounge.”

@PositiveAt59011 said:

“Please, is the place a hotel where Americans do lodge in?”

@DanQuaye22 said:

“They told the citizens Flagstaff House is a security zone, but see who has easy access.”

Continue Reading

EDITOR’S PICK

VenturesNow1 hour ago

Ghana’s inflation rises to 22.1%

Ghana’s consumer inflation increased to 22.1% in October, up from 21.5% in September, according to the statistics department on Wednesday....

Tech16 hours ago

Kenyan fintech Chumz expands into Rwanda after hitting 200k users

Kenya’s fintech startup, Chumz, has announced its imminent expansion into Rwanda after hitting 200,000 registered users in its home market....

Culture16 hours ago

Zimbabwe calls on UK to return remains of 19th century warriors

The Zimbabwean government has renewed its call on the United Kingdom to repatriate the remains of its 19th century warriors...

Metro16 hours ago

Zambian revenue agency warns businesses to pay tax arrears or face sanctions

The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has warned businesses and taxpayers to settle their outstanding tax arrears on or before December...

Uncategorized20 hours ago

Dangote: Deregulation doesn’t excuse low-quality oil blends

In Nigeria, Dangote Petroleum Refinery has warned Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limited and other oil marketers that the country’s national...

Politics20 hours ago

Equatorial Guinea bans sex in govt offices after tapes leak

Following the release of private recordings on social media that seemed to show a senior finance ministry official having sex...

VenturesNow21 hours ago

Ghanaian cocoa farmers stockpile beans ahead of price rise

According to industry sources cited by Reuters, cocoa farmers in Ghana, the world’s second-largest producer, are stockpiling beans in anticipation...

Musings From Abroad21 hours ago

After initial evaluation, IMF raises Ethiopia’s international reserves target

In order to make it easier to pay for future hard currency expenses, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) increased Ethiopia’s...

Politics21 hours ago

Chad threatens to leave international security force

Mahamat Idriss Deby, the temporary president of Chad, has threatened to withdraw the Central African nation from a multinational security...

Metro23 hours ago

President Tinubu congratulates Trump on US election victory

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has congratulated USA president-elect, Donald Trump, on his electoral victory after defeating vice president Kamala Harris...

Trending