From Emperors to Exhibits – Demanding the Return of Our Stolen Artifacts

I am 100% sure we ruled long before being called slaves. Our ancestors included Septimius Severus, the Black Roman emperor who died in York, the Moorish dynasties that ruled Europe for centuries, and the Black Legions that guarded Hadrian’s Wall. Between 1892 and 1902, British forces looted key symbols of our heritage: the crown of the Ezza king in 1892, more than 3,000 Benin Bronzes (including the Queen Mother’s head and sacred hen) in 1897, and the Ihu Stone of Arochukwu in 1902, now listed under accession number 1902.20.6. Recent freedom-of-information requests exposed the cover-up: the British Museum has claimed “research ongoing” on the Benin Bronzes for 134 years, while Oxford’s Pitt Rivers denies holding the Ihu Stone despite its official accession. We must demand the return of our bronzes, the Ihu Stone, and our history.

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