I am from Nigeria, the very soil that was once the safe haven of the Benin Bronzes. These bronze plaques, currently housed by the British Museum, hold a deep personal and national relevance for Nigerians. Our country's historical artefacts have been wrongfully kept in Britain and it’s painting a painful reminder of the pillage that took place during Britain's Punitive Expedition of 1897 - a wrong that these artefacts have been made to stand testament to instead of their rightful place in showcasing our rich history.

The Benin Bronzes were forcefully and unethically seized. Today, they sit in the British Museum, thanks to the British Museum Act of 1963 which disallows the permanent repatriation of stolen artifacts. Yet, even as they are detached by miles and an ocean from their homeland, we cannot overlook the fact that these artifacts were conceived by the hands of our ancestors and belong to Nigeria.

On the note of rightful ownership, the Netherlands displayed a commendable move by returning their share of Benin Bronzes to Nigeria this year. While the British Museum has made short-term loans of these artifacts, a more permanent and equitable solution is necessary. Hence, this petition urges the UK government to amend the British Museum Act of 1963 and facilitate the full repatriation of these representations of Nigerian culture.

The rightful owners of these artifacts deserve to be known, and they deserve to claim their heritage. We must understand and acknowledge that the coerced displacement of these beautiful pieces of art is not just an act of theft, but a blatant suppression of a culture's voice. It's time to rectify the legacy of imperial injustice.

Please sign this petition and support the cause of cultural preservation and decolonization, by amending the British Museum Act of 1963 and ensuring that the Benin Bronzes be rightfully returned to Nigeria.