New online archive for Benin Bronzes to go live at end of 2022

FILE PHOTO: A newly made bronze plaque depicting historical events in West Africa's once mighty Kingdom of Benin, which is being offered as a gift to the British Museum, is seen on display in Benin City, Nigeria, July 31, 2021. REUTERS/Tife Owolabi

LAGOS (Reuters) - An online archive bringing together information on thousands of Benin Bronze artefacts in museums around the world is expected to go live at the end of next year, one of the organisers said on Friday.

The Benin Bronzes, which are mostly in Europe, were stolen from Nigeria's Benin City during colonialism and are among Africa's most significant heritage objects. The statues were created from at least the 16th century onwards, according to the British Museum.