Author(s): Barnaby Phillips

History | Britain | Nigeria | Art

A tragic story of the British empire run amok and the plunder of great works of art

A Prospect Best Book of 2021

In 1897, Britain sent a punitive expedition to the Kingdom of Benin, in what is today Nigeria, in retaliation for the killing of seven British officials and traders. British soldiers and sailors captured Benin, exiled its 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 history before the British took them, their fate since 1897, and the intense debate about their future. When they were first displayed in London their splendour and antiquity challenged the prevailing view of Africa as a continent without culture or history. They are now amongst the most admired and valuable artworks in the world. But seeing the Benin Bronzes in the British Museum today is, in the words of one Benin City artist, like 'visiting relatives behind bars'. In a time of huge controversy about the legacy of empire, racial justice and the future of museums, what does the future hold for the Bronzes?

'A fascinating and timely book.' William Boyd

'Gripping...a must read.' FT

'Compelling...humane, reasonable, and ultimately optimistic.' Evening Standard

'[A] valuable guide to a complex narrative.' The Times

REVIEW:

'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

'Debate continues to rage over whether the Benin Bronzes held in London's British Museum should be returned to Africa. Barnaby Phillips focuses instead on their origins, investigating their medieval authors, and what they can tell us about Africa's culture and history.' -- BBC History

'For the first time a comprehensive account of the famed Benin Bronzes, from their creation to their pillaging by British troops to subsequent attempts at recovery. Phillips writes with ease and erudition, highlighting the many complexities that arise with each attempt at addressing this historical injustice.' -- Alexander Herman, The Art Newspaper

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.