By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
There was palpable joy at the Palace of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, as he joyfully received two artifacts, a mother hen and a bronze plaque from the University of Iowa Museum, United States of America.
Recall that the Benin palace was invaded in 1897 by the British and several artifacts were carted away in the process.
The Oba, while receiving the returned items in his palace, said the immediate past president of the federation, President Muhammadu Buhari made the ownership of artifacts very clearly through his recent gazette before he left office.
The monarch who was very elated over the return of the artifacts, alluded to some of the earlier ones retuned to the palace which he said his forebears started the process but he was able to accomplish the feat when he ascend the throne.
The royal father said what they are seeing as mere artifacts are not just mere artifacts rather they have a spiritual implications which the mere mortals cannot understand.
Oba Ewuare II explained the enormous sacrifice they as the custodians of the traditions and customs of the people make to ensure that the rich cultural heritage are preserved.
He further appealed to the political leaders to help preserve the traditions and customs of the land just as he said it should not be left to the traditional institutions alone.
Earlier, Mr. Cory Gundlach, a curator from the African Art, apologized to the Oba of Benin for using the artifacts as teaching materials in the university just as he also apologized on behalf of other his colleagues who have used the arts to teach thousands of students in the United States of America.
He assured the monarch of his determination to ensure that others that are kept elsewhere are returned to its original abode.