Western reactions to Benin bronzes | Civilisations - BBC

#bbc

[noobartist]

Best way to convince an entire region they have no history is by destroying everything that defined their history.

[aviksanyal]

Just looking at the beautiful motifs on the garment worn by many West Africans is reason enough to believe these guys have a thriving culture and endowed with tremendous artistic sense.

[lordsway]

Every time they search for the truth they find us they dig up earth they find us but still deny African Damian Marley

[bobbkg]

If the Africans had no history, why is their Artistry in the Museum's of Europe.

[NoName-bevp]

“Africa had no history or civilization for thousands of years”

Timbuktu: y’all heard something?
Nubia:
Axum:
Great Zimbabwe:
Benin city: nah, let’s continue on with our day

[smartwerker]

The denial of African history is a pillar of white supremacy. The fact that the British aren't returning the art to Benin is part of that white supremacy too --- it displays a perception that Benin/African people are under control of Britain --- to British citizens and tourist visiting the museum. All these efforts were originally formed when it became fully aware that Pythagoras, Archimedes, Euclid learned math/science/philosophy from the Kemetians. All this hatred/jealousy/distortion because of pride and not wanting to admit that the African people were the source of the enlightenment and the economic saviors of Europe / the "new world" as a whole --- LoL. White supremacy is basically hating how everything unfolded in history and hoping to lie about it to make yourself feel better. ;P Pride comes before a great fall.

[elleyonaspg]

So why are these pieces of artwork still in the British museum?

[abigaileshigbemeh]

Proudly Benin! It should all be returned

[ClipCoyote]

The assumption that African civilizations weren't capable of producing or appreciating fine art is exactly the mentality that led colonial Britain into justifications for enslaving Africans like beasts. It makes one appreciate the British Museum scene from the Black Panther movie a lot more!

[Tulipan]

Bring them back to where they belong! There they have true value. The kind of value no one can buy!

[coolgrandmasterdthestudent]

Everybody has genius in their culture why is this so hard to believe

[kweenme]

WHY ARE MY ANCESTORS BRONZE ART IN BERLIN AND BRITAIN AND ALL WE GOT IS A FEW IN NIGERIA? I'm not even Nigerian. Shouldn't they be in BENIN.

[mrcarter]

These were the first record before the oba was the ogiso....

Ogiso Igodo (40 BCE – 16 CE). 

Ogiso Ere (16 - 66 CE). 

Ogiso Orire (66 – 100 CE).  

Ogiso Odia (385 – 400 CE),  

Ogiso Ighido (400 CE – 414 CE),  

Ogiso Evbuobo (414 -432 CE),  

Ogiso Ogbeide (432 – 447 CE),  

Ogiso Emehe (447 – 466 CE),  

Ogiso Ekpigho (466 – 482 CE),  

Ogiso Akhuankhuan (482 – 494 CE),  

 Ogiso Efeseke (494– 508 CE),  

Ogiso Irudia (508– 522 CE).  

Ogiso Orria (522– 537 CE),  

Ogiso Imarhan (537– 548 CE) 

 Ogiso Etebowe (548– 567 CE),  

Ogiso Odion (567– 584 CE),  

Ogiso Emose (584– 600 CE),  

Ogiso Ororo (600– 618 CE), .  

Ogiso Erebo (618– 632 CE),  

Ogiso Ogbomo (632 –647 CE),  

Ogiso Agbonzeke (647–665 CE),  

Ogiso Ediae (665– 685 CE),  

Ogiso Orriagba (685– 712 CE) 

Ogiso Odoligie (712– 767 CE),  

Ogiso Uwa (767– 821 CE)  

Ogiso Eheneden (821–871 CE),  

Ogiso Ohuede (871– 917 CE),

Ogiso Oduwa (917– 967 CE),  

Ogiso Obioye (967– 1012 CE),   

Ogiso Arigho (1012– 1059 CE),  

Ogiso Owodo (1059-1100 CE),  

Pre-Imperial Obas of Benin (pre-1280 - 1440)[1]Edit

Eweka I

Uwuakhuahen

Henmihen

Ewedo

Oguola

Edoni

Udagbedo

Ohen

Egbeka

Orobiru

Uwaifiokun

Obas of the Benin Empire (1440–1897)Edit

There is some uncertainty in the dates of the reigns of some of the earlier warrior kings[2]

Ewuare I (1440–1473)

Ezoti (1473–1474)

Olua (1475–1480)

Ozolua (1480–1504)

Esigie (1504–1547)

Orhogbua (1547–1580)

Ehengbuda (1580–1602)

Ohuan (1602–1656)

Ohenzae5)

Akenkpaye (1675–1684)

Akengbedo (1684–1689)

Ore-Oghene (1689–1701)

Ewuakpe (1701–1712)

Ozuere (1712–1713)

Akenzua I (1713–1740)

Eresoyen (1740–1750)

Akengbuda (1750–1804)

Obanosa (1804–1816)

Ogbebo (1816)

Osemwende (1816–1848)

Adolo (1848–1888)

Ovonramwen Nogbaisi (1888–1914) (exiled to Calabar by the British in 1897)

Post-Imperial Obas of Benin (1914–Present)Edit

Eweka II (1914–1933)

Akenzua II (1933–1978)

Erediauwa (1979–2016)

Ewuare II (2016–)

[Mjosiah]

i've always been obsessed with these bronzes and was very happy when i checked my dna and found i'm mostly benin and then secondly from ghana.

[timothyfoster]

The devil comes rob kill steal, destroy

[RunnnerKing]

Say it again, we are descendants of the founders of civilization, master builders, and geniuses!

[PreshEhi]

I saw these in may at the British Museum. Felt happy to see them but sad they were not in their rightful place. Am from Edo state, Nigeria and grew up hearing stories of this magnificent sculptures we had.

[TheRunner]

If they were left alone for another 1000 years .. imagine!! What they would have done

[carlanderson]

The richest man who ever lived was Monsa Musa, a west African king before the time of slavery.

[frankozrin]

I am from Europe, and it breaks my heart every day to see what was done to the Ashanti kingdom and Benin kingdom! I cannot imagine how painful this would be for Nigerians, Ghanaians or other Western Africans. How inspirational, beautiful and magical it would be, that I as a European could visit the old town of Kumasi or Benin city and see the wonder of those old cultures, just as I can indulge in the beauty of Isfahan, Marrakech, Paris, Krakow, Lijiang or Jodhpur, instead I can only see looted objects in a museum in London and a few old pictures and drawings of Kumasi and Benin city. Incredible, I am speechless