The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has received another artefact from the Netherlands as a gift to mark his 10th coronation anniversary.
The artefact was presented on Tuesday evening by the Executive Director of Museum de Fundatie in the Netherlands, Beatrice Von Bormann, in the presence of Portugal’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Paulo Martins Santos.
Von Bormann said she was pleased to return the artefact, which had been in the museum’s collection since 1937.
She said investigations traced its origin to the 18th century, adding that the object had travelled around the world and symbolised reincarnation and the Olokun deity.
Receiving the artefact, Oba Ewuare II recalled the historical relationship between Benin and Portugal, noting that his forebears had considered embracing Catholicism introduced by Portuguese missionaries in the 15th century, but the people remained committed to their traditional religion.
The monarch said the Benin people had their own spiritual channel for communicating with God.
He also expressed surprise that the Vatican recognised African traditional religions.
