9th July 2014 ThisDay Live shares the report on a day of rejoicing recently in Benin City in Nigeria recently, when a man named Dr. Adrian Mark Walker returned 2 bronze works taken from the Palace of the Oba of Benin, during the British Invasion of the Benin Kingdom in 1897.
Adrian Walker is the great grandson of Capt. Philip Walker, one of the soldiers who participated in the invasion and he said that returning the bronze works felt like the right thing to do and when he saw the happiness surrounding his action, he knew that he had made the right choice.
The current Oba of Benin Oba Erediauwa, expressed his elation at seeing the bronzes, taken away when his great grandfather, Oba Ovonramwen, was Oba of Benin.
Dr Walker encouraged Nigeria to search for its various artworks, some of which he affirmed were in museums around the world. He shared the tale of a tusk sold by his grandmother to the Jos Museum.
Oba Erediauwa encouraged other countries still in possession of historical Nigerian artwork to return them to their place of origin. Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole who was present at the handing over ceremony, also expressed his appreciation to Dr Walker for returning the artwork to its rightful place.