Katie and Steve speak with their colleague Eden Burgess and guest Dr. Ndubuisi C. Ezeluomba, Curator of African Art at the Virginia Museum of Fine Art and an expert in Benin Bronzes, about the artistic history of Benin City in current day Nigeria, the fate of the Benin Bronzes that dispersed around the world after the British invasion and looting of Benin Kingdom in 1897, and how we should think about ownership and possession of these valuable objects today.
Resources
https://vmfa.museum/pressroom/news/dr-ndubuisi-c-ezeluomba-named-vmfas-new-curator-african-art/
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/nigeria-stolen-benin-bronzes-london-museum
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/25/movies/dahomey-documentary-mati-diop.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/21/arts/design/france-museums-africa-savoy-sarr-report.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-65531736
Katie and Steve discuss topics based on news and magazine articles and court filings and not based on original research unless specifically noted.
Episode Transcription Coming Soon
Music by Chris Thompson. Produced by Jackie Santos.