Author(s): Barnaby Phillips

History | Britain | Nigeria | Art

In 1897, Britain responded to the killing of a group of officials by razing an empire to the ground.

The men had been travelling to the ancient Kingdom of Benin, in what is now Nigeria, when they were ambushed and killed by local soldiers. Just six weeks later, the British had exacted their revenge, set Benin aflame, exiled the king and annexed the territory. They also made off with some of Africa's greatest works of art.

This is the story of the 'Benin Bronzes', their creation, removal, and what should happen to them now. When first exhibited in London they caused a sensation and helped reshape European attitudes towards Africa, challenging the prevailing view of the continent as 'backward' and without culture. But seeing them in the British Museum today is, in the words of one Benin City artist, like 'visiting relatives behind bars'. In a time of fevered debate about the legacies of empire, loot, museums and history, what does the future hold for the Bronzes themselves?

Review:

'Gripping...a must read.' * FT *

'[A] balanced reconstruction of the Benin saga and probes the difficult choices facing European - and Nigerian - museums... Phillips excels at tracing the roundabout ways in which objects could find their way into museums.' -- TLS

'The storytelling is crisp, balanced and authoritative... As Britain continues to twist on the thorny issue of racism...this book's laser-sharp focus on the casenotes from one instance of colonial cruelty allows for a much more informed understanding of the wider issue. Whereas before the now highly valuable Benin Bronzes might have had us looking in the attic for some forgotten heirloom, perhaps now we are left examining our consciences.' -- Tim Butcher, Spectator

'Mr Phillips, a veteran British correspondent in Africa who knows Nigeria well, adds new and much-needed context to the story of the Edo empire and its bloody finale... Mr Phillips is at pains to show how deeply the Edo people feel the loss of their physical culture... But Mr Phillips is clear-sighted about the political and financial obstacles that must still be overcome.' -Economist

'His compelling book is full of African voices... It is balanced, sternly critical of the Brits when that is appropriate, but at the same time humane, reasonable, and ultimately optimistic.' -- Evening Standard

'Rarely have books like Loot focussed so in-depth on the perspectives of Africans. As Loot makes clear, whether in the form of Nollywood films or oral histories handed down across generations, Nigerians have had a lot to say about the Benin Bronzes... Phillips kicks off his stylish tome with an in-depth history of the Kingdom of Benin... he paints a touching portrait of the kingdom and the people who inhabited it... it's possible that a book like Loot could offer some readers the context needed to get behind Phillips's cause.' -- Art News

Author Biography: Barnaby Phillips spent over twenty-five years as a journalist, reporting for the BBC from Mozambique, Angola, Nigeria and South Africa before joining Al Jazeera English. He is the author of Another Man's War: The Story of a Burma Boy in Britain's Forgotten African Army, which is also published by Oneworld. He grew up in Kenya and now lives in London.