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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Tejas, post: 8163191, member: 84905&quot;]As so often, the real history is a lot more complicated than &quot;a British expedition destroying Benin City and looting bronze sculptures&quot;. The kingdom of the Edo with its centre at Benin was an oppressive, warlike state based on slavery and human sacrifices.</p><p>In 1897 the Edo slaughtered a large delegation of unarmed Europeans and Africans - many were beheaded and sacrificed on bronze altars. The British organized a retaliation expedition, which destroyed the Edo kingdom. The British conficated the bronzes, not because they thought they were of artistic value, but because they thougth they were of historical value which they feared would be lost in the ensuing chaos.</p><p>The modern multi-ethnic state of Nigeria has very little to do with the Edo kingdom and it is very doubtful that modern Nigerians need Edo bronze sculptures to know who they are. Most importantly, these scuptures are almost certaintly best cared for in the places were they are now.</p><p>Things are entirely different with art looted during WWII, first by the Nazis and than by the Allies. These objects were simply stolen and need to be returned, no matter what.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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