New
New
Year 6

Why arguments have broken out about the Benin Bronzes

I can explain why the Benin Bronzes have caused arguments in the present day.

New
New
Year 6

Why arguments have broken out about the Benin Bronzes

I can explain why the Benin Bronzes have caused arguments in the present day.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Whether or not the British Museum should return its Benin Bronzes has caused lots of arguments.
  2. Nigeria argues that they should be returned because they were originally taken from Benin City without permission.
  3. Some museums have returned looted Edo artwork to Nigeria, but British law prevents the British Museum from doing so.
  4. In the USA, descendants of West African enslaved people are trying to stop the return of Edo artwork to Nigeria.
  5. This is because some of the art was made using metals that were traded by Europeans for enslaved people.

Common misconception

The Benin Bronzes were created for trade with Europeans.

The Benin Bronzes were created to serve as significant cultural and religious artefacts within the Benin Kingdom and made from the manilla used as payment for goods.

Keywords

  • Descendants - descendants are people who come after someone else in a family

  • Ancestors - ancestors are the people who came before you in your family; they are a family's older generations

Create family trees to explore the concepts of 'ancestors' and 'descendants'.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
The ancient Kingdom of Benin was located in modern day .
Britain
Correct answer: Nigeria
India
Q2.
Nigeria has asked that the Benin Bronzes be repatriated. What does 'repatriated' mean?
Correct answer: to send something back to the country it came from
to give something a new name
to have ancient artefacts cleaned
to buy artefacts from a museum
Q3.
The capital of the Kingdom of Benin was .
Correct Answer: Benin City, Benin city, benin city, benin City
Q4.
Match the word to its meaning.
Correct Answer:Oba,the ruler of the Edo people

the ruler of the Edo people

Correct Answer:Benin Bronzes,bronze and brass artefacts made by the Edo people

bronze and brass artefacts made by the Edo people

Correct Answer:Nigeria,a country in West Africa

a country in West Africa

Q5.
What is a manilla?
an envelope
a capital city
Correct answer: a brass, bronze or copper bracelet
a gold bracelet
Q6.
What was the Benin Expedition?
In 1897, British tourists visited Benin City and bought the Bronzes as souvenirs
In 1897, the Edo people gifted the Benin Bronzes to the British Museum.
Correct answer: In 1897, British forces invaded and looted the Benin Bronzes from Benin City.

6 Questions

Q1.
Why would Nigeria like to have the Benin Bronzes repatriated?
Correct answer: They are an important part of their heritage.
They are worth a lot of money.
Correct answer: They originated in Nigeria.
They make lovely decorations for the Oba's palace.
Q2.
Match the word to its meaning.
Correct Answer:curator,someone who looks after artefacts in a museum

someone who looks after artefacts in a museum

Correct Answer:descendants,the people who come after someone else in a family

the people who come after someone else in a family

Correct Answer:ancestors,the people who came before you in your family

the people who came before you in your family

Q3.
Nigeria is in Africa.
North
South
East
Correct answer: West
Q4.
What does British law prevent the British museum from doing?
displaying artefacts that were looted from other countries
Correct answer: returning artefacts to their country of origin
displaying artefacts that show enslaved people
Q5.
Who is against the repatriation of the Benin Bronzes?
Correct answer: the descendants of the enslaved people from the Kingdom of Benin
the ancestors of the enslaved people from the Kingdom of Benin
the Oba of Benin
Nigeria
Q6.
The Benin Bronzes were made from manilla.
clay
Correct answer: brass
gold
silver

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