16/09/2026
The story of the ceremonial stool of Ọba Eresoyen
In 1897, one of the priceless artifacts stolen by the British was a brass ceremonial stool belonging to Oba Eresoyen, who reigned as the Oba of Benin from 1735 to 1750.
After the 1897 raid of Benin, the stool traveled through various museums in Europe and eventually ended up in a museum in Germany, where it remained for many years. The earliest documented calls for the return of the Benin Bronzes date back to Oba Ewuare II, whose demands for restitution went unheard.
In 2022, the German government returned a few Benin bronzes to Nigeria, including the ceremonial stool. However, due to ongoing ownership disputes on the Nigerian side, none of these returned items were handed over to the Benin Royal Palace or directly to the Oba of Benin.
In 2024, the NCMM made a significant decision to return this stool to HRM the Oba of Benin. This decision was not only ethical but also grounded in law, as affirmed by the Federal Government gazette of 2023, which reaffirmed the ownership of the returned Benin bronzes to the Benin Kingdom.
