A Briton by the name of Dr. Mark Walker recently returned two bronze works to the Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa after they where taken to Britain by his great grandfather 117 years ago.
The two bronze artefacts, a long-beaked bird and a bell, where carted away by Walker’s great grandfather, Captain Philip Walker, in 1897 during the invasion of Benin by British soldiers.
The Oba of Benin received the items at a reception put together in honour of the Briton in Benin. The Benin ruler, whose birthday comes up in a few days, expressed his joy over the return of the artefacts and called them the best birthday gifts he had ever received.
He also pleaded with all those whose ancestors fought in Benin and still held on to certain Benin relics and artefacts to follow in the footsteps of Walker and return them to where they belong.
Walker acknowledged the errors of his great grandfather’s ways and expressed delight that the traditional ruler and people of Benin did not pick offence with him because of what his great grandfather’s did.
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