Throughline The Kingdom Behind Glass
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Jan 30, 2025 Wando Achebe, a West African history expert at Michigan State University, dives into the tumultuous legacy of the Benin Kingdom and its treasures. The conversation reveals the gripping journey of looted Benin Bronzes to prestigious Cambridge. Achebe elaborates on the clash of empires, the complexity of colonial legacies, and the moral dilemmas surrounding the art's restitution. This narrative intertwines personal identity and history, igniting a deeper understanding of imperialism's impacts.
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The Discovery
- Ore Ogunbiyi, a first-year student at Cambridge, discovered a Benin Bronze rooster statue in her dining hall.
- This sparked her journey to understand its history and fight for its repatriation.
The Benin Kingdom
- The Benin Kingdom, located in present-day Nigeria, was a powerful and advanced civilization.
- They were renowned for their art, including the Benin Bronzes.
Trade and Conflict
- The Benin Kingdom traded with Europeans, exchanging goods like pepper and ivory for firearms.
- These firearms fueled their expansion but also their participation in the slave trade.