Benin Kingdom Display

A new display in the World Gallery explores the past, present and future of Benin City.

In November 2022, the Horniman transferred ownership of 72 objects to Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM). These objects were forcibly looted from Benin City in 1897 during a British military incursion, and then purchased by Frederick Horniman and held in the Horniman’s collection for over 120 years.

Six of the objects were physically returned to the NCMM in November 2022 while the rest remain at the Horniman on loan to continue research and consultation around the objects. Some of these objects can be seen in the new display in the World Gallery, and in the Music Gallery.

Artist Residency

Osaru Obaseki was commissioned by the Horniman to create a contemporary bronze sculpture for the new display. Her sculpture titled, ‘Ame, Oyevbamen Like Water’ represents the head of an Edo woman and celebrates great women from Edo history and today.

Osaru is an Edo born multi-media visual artist who creates using sand (Earth) and acrylic as a way of synergising two different civilizations – the ancient and the modern. She also works with bronze, using the longstanding history of bronze casting and the lost wax technique.

The residency was hosted by the Winchester School of Art. Special thanks go to Ian Dawson, Jacob Hall, Andrew Brook and Paul Kennedy.

This commission was made possible with Art Fund support.

Film and soundscape

The display features a new film, directed by filmmaker Eden Igwe. Eden is a filmmaker, writer and artist born in Lagos and raised in southwest London where she currently lives and where she held a residency with Orleans House Gallery in 2024. Eden explores identity, nature, the surreal and excavation/ exploration of a black female gaze in British film.

The film includes a soundscape created by Antidisciplinary artist and healing practitioner, tobi Adebajo. They created a healing soundscape utilising various West African drums, the chants of Benin women as they pound nuts, voices of Indigenous Benin people and tonal frequencies.

tobi also worked with the Horniman to explore the spiritual aspects of the collection and this display.

Listen to their soundscape in full

School workshops in Benin City

‘Our art tells us a story of unique past and it’s a form of heritage presentation for the younger generation’ – Student

The display’s red graphic wallpaper was created by 15 students at University Preparatory Secondary School in Benin City. In a series of creative workshops with artist 12th The Creator, the Museum of West African Art and the Horniman’s Formal Learning team, the students created their own artworks inspired by the Benin Kingdom. You can read more about the project in this blog written by our Formal Learning team.

Consultation panel

Our consultation panel worked closely with the Horniman Museum to co-curate this display.

Alafuro Sikoki-Coleman

Alafuro is a Nigerian born industrial designer and artist. She focuses on Nigerian, African and global culture at her design practice Studio Sikoki.

Damilola Onafuwa

Damilola is a Nigerian visual artist, documentary photographer and filmmaker. He uses his works as a tool to present a new perspective on the lives of people and their cultures, by highlighting human interest stories in its purest form, and increasing consciousness surrounding social issues in society. He is notable for producing projects like “Angels Among Men”, “Beautiful Noise” and “My Granddad’s Possessions”. Damilola is the founder and creative director of StoryMaxima – a media and production services company, specialized in creative visuals, photography, commercial and documentary films.

Freda Osayuki Igiogbe

Freda is a British-Nigerian artist with Edo origins. She uses different mediums, specifically clay, to showcase her identity and experience of living in Nigeria.

Joseph Ijoyemi

Joseph is a Swedish-Nigerian contemporary artist whose work is deeply rooted in the exploration of culture, heritage, and the reinterpretation of collections. Through his work, Joseph seeks to challenge and expand the narratives around cultural identity, using his art to explore how heritage can be preserved, reimagined, and presented in new and innovative ways.

Pius Osemwegie

Pius is the Co-ordinator of the Great Benin Kingdom Culture and Heritage Forum.

Seun Adeniyi

Seun is a cultural practitioner with a work spanning 13 years in experience. Based in the UK, she brings a nuanced understanding of heritage, consulting and facilitating dynamic projects that explore the intersections of culture, history, and identity in West Africa. She aims to build and strengthen a network of practitioners for promotion of cultural heritage management as well as foster deeper appreciation for the diverse narratives and artistic expressions of West African heritage.

Florence Yankson – Benin Display Volunteer

Florence is a British-Ghanian volunteer archivist and exhibition assistant. She hopes to use her experience to assist in the retelling of West African communities’ histories and cultures.

Acknowledgements

Most objects on display are on loan from the National Commission for Museums and Monuments of Nigeria.

Thank you to Digital Benin which has been an incredible resource, and the book, ‘The Benin Monarchy: An Anthology of Benin History’ edited by the Benin Traditional Council Editorial Board.

This display was supported using public funding by Arts Council England.