Cambridge University to return bronze cockerel looted from Benin kingdom

The University of Cambridge is to repatriate a Benin bronze, known as “okukor,” which was looted in 1897 when the British imperial troops occupied Benin kingdom.

The bronze cockerel was later bequeathed to Jesus College in 1930 by a former British Army officer but years later, in 2016 to be precise, it was removed from display at the college and the Legacy of Slavery Working Party (LSWP) later recommended it be returned.

The Master of Jesus College, Sonita Alleyne, said they were not trying to “erase history.”

She said the decision came after “diligent and careful” work of the LSWP into the legacy of slavery at Jesus College.

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“We are an honest community, and after thorough investigation into the provenance of the Benin bronze, our job is to seek the best way forward,” she added.

Almost 1,000 bronzes were taken after Benin City, in present-day Nigeria, was occupied by imperial troops in 1897, according to the British Museum.

About 900 of those artifacts are housed in museums and collections around the world, including the British Museum.

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