Benin collections at National Museums Scotland
News Story
For centuries the highly skilled artists and artisans of the Edo Kingdom have produced outstanding artworks of immense cultural value in the royal city of Benin in present day Nigeria.
The invasion of the kingdom by British military forces in 1897 and their looting of the palace in Benin resulted in the sale and dispersal of thousands of these artworks into European and North American museums, including the National Museum of Scotland.
As a member of the Benin Dialogue Group, today we are working to understand and share more about the provenance of these objects and the history and legacies of British imperial and colonial actions in Africa.
You can see a selection of artworks from Benin on display in the Artistic Legacies gallery at the National Museum of Scotland.
The court arts and history of the Kingdom of Benin
For centuries highly skilled artists and artisans of the Edo Kingdom have produced outstanding artworks. They are of immense cultural value in the royal city of Benin in present day Nigeria.
The British Raid on Benin 1897
During the second half of the 19th century, Britain had imperial ambitions for control over west African resources and territory.
The historic trade between West Africa and Portugal
Portuguese mariners were the first Europeans to explore the western coast of Africa. In the mid-15th century, they began a series of voyages in search of a sea route to Asia.
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Colonial Histories and Legacies
At National Museums Scotland, we care for over 12 million objects, some from Scotland and others that were first made, used or collected in places around the world.
The Benin Dialogue Group
National Museums Scotland has been a member of the Benin Dialogue Group since 2019.