In response to a letter from Mr Toyin Agbetu – one of the commentators who posted on African Arts with Tajudeen Sowole – the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) Boston has disclosed that the Oba of Benin was informed of the gift, earlier this year.
According to the letter dated July 12, 2012 and signed by Malcolm Rogers, Ann and Graham Gund for the office of the Director, MFA, the Oba was informed "with the goal of cultivating a productive relationship with the court."
All efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Benin monarch for response to MFA's claim was still on going shortly before this posting on Arts with Tajudeen Sowole.
Mr. Toyin Agbetu
According to the letter dated July 12, 2012 and signed by Malcolm Rogers, Ann and Graham Gund for the office of the Director, MFA, the Oba was informed "with the goal of cultivating a productive relationship with the court."
All efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Benin monarch for response to MFA's claim was still on going shortly before this posting on Arts with Tajudeen Sowole.
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| One of the controversial art pieces |
MFA stresses in the letter: "This important gift affords the unique possibility of sharing these extraordinary works of arts, previously in a private collection, with as many people as possible; over a million visitors of diverse backgrounds come to the MFA each year from around the globe. The gallery in which the collection is to be installed will discuss not only the history of the objects individually, but also the history and culture of the Benin Kingdom. The Museum's website will be equally thorough in its presentation of the material."
Mr Agbetu has posted on African Arts with Tajudeen Sowole challenging the claims of MFA. He said: "How dare the Boston museum management state that the 'gifts' meet all legal standard. It is clear that the artefacts are the proceeds of criminal activity and the only rightful course of action is to return them to the lawful owners."
The controversial artworks, which include 28 bronzes and six ivories were donated to the Boston museum by Mr. Robert Owen Lehman, a great-grandson of founder of Lehman Brothers. According to sources, the senior Lehman bought the works from dealers and at auctions from the 1950s through the ’70s.
Nigerian museum authority, National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) has challenged the legitimacy claims of Museum of Fine Arts, Boston U.S., which, few weeks ago received 32 works of Benin origin from the heir of one of the beneficiaries of the infamous 1897 Benin punitive expedition.
In his response, the Director-General of NCMM, Mallam Yusuf Abdallah Usman faulted Museum of Fine Arts, Boston for its claim that the donation met all legal standards.
Under the group, The Ligali Organisation, Agbetu wrote MFA:
“Considering the violent, unauthorised and murderous circumstances that led to the theft of this property it would be ludicrous to suggest that they legitimately belong to anyone other than the people from who they were stolen. It is thus our position that the legal ownership of this property, therefore, resides with African people. It is in this context that we seek the repatriation of these objects for the benefit of the socio-cultural enrichment of African people many who are also direct descendents of the possessions creators.”
Here is a reproduced copy of the full text of Boston letter:
Museum of Fine Arts Boston
Office of the Director
Avenue of the Arts
465 Huntington Avenue Boston,
Massachusetts 02115 617 369 3200
www.mfa.org
12 July 2012
Mr. Toyin Agbetu
Head of Social and Education Policy
The Ligali Organization
I am in receipt of your letter of 3 July;; thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts about the gift of Benin Kingdom bronzes and ivories to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA).
The MFA understands and recognizes your concerns regarding the history of this group of objects, and in no way condones the events surrounding the Punitive Expedition of 1897. Yet, many works of art in museums, including the MFA, were displaced during periods of conflict, a fact which need not prevent their acquisition today. Further, applicable law does not compel a different result in our view.
This important gift affords the unique possibility of sharing these extraordinary works of arts, previously in a private collection, with as many people as possible;; over a million visitors of diverse backgrounds come to the MFA each year from around the globe. The gallery in which the collection is to be installed will discuss not only the history of the objects individually, but also the history and culture of the Benin Kingdom. The Museum's website will be equally thorough in its presentation of the material.
It is my hope that this gift will inaugurate a fruitful dialogue with our colleagues both locally and abroad, and will further opportunities for cultural exchange. To that end, I wrote earlier this year to His Majesty Omo N'Oba N'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba of Benin, to inform him of the gift, with the goal of cultivating a productive relationship with the court.
The receipt of these objects allows us to fulfill the important objectives of an encyclopedic museum to provide broad access to our collections and encourage discussions about the historical past. We shall do so according to the highest ethical and professional standards, demonstrating the esteem in which we hold these objects and the culture that created them.
Malcolm Rogers
Ann and Graham Gund Director
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