Benin Bronze Heads

The Benin Bronze Heads, crafted between the 13th and 19th centuries, are masterpieces of brass and bronze artistry from the Kingdom of Benin (present-day Edo State, Nigeria). Created by royal guilds to honor past Obas (kings), they adorned ancestral altars in the royal palace. In 1897, during the British punitive expedition, thousands were looted and dispersed to museums and private collections across Europe and America. Today, these remarkable artifacts stand as symbols of African sophistication, artistry, and resistance. Their global journey has sparked a powerful restitution movement, with museums now beginning to return them to their rightful home in Benin City.