{"id":2019426,"date":"2026-06-30T09:48:28","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T06:48:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2019426"},"modified":"2026-06-30T09:48:28","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T06:48:28","slug":"switzerland-returns-18-looted-benin-bronzes-to-nigeria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2019426","title":{"rendered":"Switzerland returns 18 looted Benin Bronzes to Nigeria"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/88\/03\/1200x675_cmsv2_0807abd4-9a3c-5b87-879f-4d2f1dccb8eb-9818803.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2906156-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2906156\" data-cid=\"9819481\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2906156-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\">\n<p>      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/94\/81\/189x106_cmsv2_e2cbc586-838f-5cd9-8aaf-512245dde87a-9819481.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"John Ardill, vice president of global exploration at ExxonMobil, speaking in Nicosia, Cyprus.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Cyprus<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Two gas fields off Cyprus could start production by 2033\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2906166-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2906166\" data-cid=\"9819528\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2906166-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\">\n<p>      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/95\/28\/189x106_cmsv2_e1b57e14-96f0-5622-9dfb-5e77aeed8406-9819528.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Jarkko Saarimaki, head of the Finnish communications agency Traficom, is the last person to pick up a phone call by Elisa CEO Topi Manner in Helsinki. June 30, 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Tech News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Finland&#8217;s last analogue landline phones go silent after 150 years\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2906119-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2906119\" data-cid=\"9819164\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2906119-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\">\n<p>      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/91\/64\/189x106_cmsv2_54ebe112-77d0-5d71-b4ff-51bf0a28a59f-9819164.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Hyatt is expanding its Italian portfolio with three planned projects\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Residences<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Italy\u2019s luxury portfolio expands with Hyatt, IHG and Dior Spa openings\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2906114-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2906114\" data-cid=\"9819148\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2906114-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\">\n<p>      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/91\/48\/189x106_cmsv2_206e7206-e8de-51e9-8ae3-26bd6a22ebc7-9819148.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Protesters march against illegal immigration, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/p>\n<p>                      <span class=\"c-icon-video the-media-object__icon\"><\/span><br \/>\n            <\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    No Comment<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    South African protesters call for undocumented migrants to leave\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2906156-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2906156\" data-cid=\"9819481\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2906156-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\">\n<p>      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/94\/81\/189x106_cmsv2_e2cbc586-838f-5cd9-8aaf-512245dde87a-9819481.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"John Ardill, vice president of global exploration at ExxonMobil, speaking in Nicosia, Cyprus.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Cyprus<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Two gas fields off Cyprus could start production by 2033\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2906166-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2906166\" data-cid=\"9819528\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2906166-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\">\n<p>      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/95\/28\/189x106_cmsv2_e1b57e14-96f0-5622-9dfb-5e77aeed8406-9819528.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Jarkko Saarimaki, head of the Finnish communications agency Traficom, is the last person to pick up a phone call by Elisa CEO Topi Manner in Helsinki. June 30, 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Tech News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Finland&#8217;s last analogue landline phones go silent after 150 years\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2906119-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2906119\" data-cid=\"9819164\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2906119-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\">\n<p>      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/91\/64\/189x106_cmsv2_54ebe112-77d0-5d71-b4ff-51bf0a28a59f-9819164.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Hyatt is expanding its Italian portfolio with three planned projects\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Residences<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Italy\u2019s luxury portfolio expands with Hyatt, IHG and Dior Spa openings\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2906114-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2906114\" data-cid=\"9819148\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2906114-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\">\n<p>      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/91\/48\/189x106_cmsv2_206e7206-e8de-51e9-8ae3-26bd6a22ebc7-9819148.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Protesters march against illegal immigration, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/p>\n<p>                      <span class=\"c-icon-video the-media-object__icon\"><\/span><br \/>\n            <\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    No Comment<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    South African protesters call for undocumented migrants to leave\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                      <span class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__separator u-chevron-ie-a\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>                          Culture<\/p>\n<p>                      <span class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__separator u-chevron-ie-a\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>                          Culture news<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            Switzerland returns 18 looted Benin Bronzes to Nigeria<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\">\n<p>        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/88\/03\/1536x864_cmsv2_0807abd4-9a3c-5b87-879f-4d2f1dccb8eb-9818803.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Commemorate queen head, relief plate and horse rider returned from the Ethnographic Museum at the University of Zurich to Nigeria\">\n    <\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\">\n  <span id=\"article-tooltip-svg\" class=\"c-article-caption__svg u-position-absolute\"><br \/>\n<\/span><br \/>\n  <i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><br \/>\n    <span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              Commemorate queen head, relief plate and horse rider returned from the Ethnographic Museum at the University of Zurich to Nigeria<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><br \/>\n                              <span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><br \/>\n          <span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">Kathrin Leuenberger\/Ethnographic Museum at the University of Zurich<\/span><br \/>\n                          <\/span><\/p>\n<p>  <\/i>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0Kathrin Leuenberger\/Ethnographic Museum at the University of Zurich\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspSarah Miansoni\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1782812908\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-06-30 11:48:28 +02:00\">30\/06\/2026 &#8211; 11:48 GMT+2<\/time>\n            <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\">\n    <span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><\/p>\n<p>      <span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><br \/>\n    <\/span><\/p>\n<p>        <span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><\/p>\n<p>        <span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay js-c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay u-display-none\">\n<div id=\"js-c-article-share-comment-popup\" class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup js-c-article-share-comment-popup\">\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__header 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                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"bluesky\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<p>                                                                                                    <span>Bluesky<\/span><br \/>\n                                                            <\/span><br \/>\n                                  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"bluesky\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<p>                            <span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><br \/>\n                                      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"threads\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<p>                                                                                                    <span>Threads<\/span><br \/>\n                                                            <\/span><br \/>\n                                  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<p>                            <span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><br \/>\n                                      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<p>                                                                                                    <span>Whatsapp<\/span><br \/>\n                                                            <\/span><br \/>\n                                  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"tc-text-to-speech\" id=\"speakup-player\" data-twig-component=\"TextToSpeech-default\"><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        Three Swiss museums have returned 18 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, a new step in the African&#8217;s country decades-long struggle to repatriate its looted cultural heritage.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content c-article-content--culture js-article-content\">\n<p>Nigeria\u2019s stolen cultural heritage is slowly coming back home. <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div data-ad-id=\"adzone-position\" data-ad-type=\"classic\" class=\"c-ad__adzone advertising mobile-content-1\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><br \/>\n          <span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span>\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div data-ad-id=\"adzone-position\" data-ad-type=\"classic\" class=\"c-ad__adzone advertising adzone-block content-1\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><br \/>\n          <span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span>\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>On Monday, Swiss authorities returned 18 artefacts looted during the colonial era to Nigeria in a ceremony at the National Museum in Lagos.<\/p>\n<p>The restitution is the result of a collaborative process between Swiss museums and their Nigerian partners under the Benin Initiative Switzerland. The programme was launched in 2021 to investigate the provenance of Benin objects in Swiss collections. <\/p>\n<p>Monday\u2019s ceremony marked the first step in the implementation of an agreement signed in March 2026, in which Switzerland agreed to eventually transfer ownership of 28 pieces to Nigeria.<\/p>\n<div id=\"connatix-container-disabled\" class=\"connatix-container\">\n<div id=\"connatix-player-disabled\" data-ad-name=\"connatix\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cThe return of our cultural heritage marks more than the recovery of artefacts. It reflects the power of dialogue, trust, and international cooperation,\u201d Nigeria\u2019s culture minister Hannatu Musa Musawa said on X.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-freeform\nwidget--size-fullwidth\nwidget--align-center\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DaLU7_VjKGi\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>Voir cette publication sur Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Une publication partag\u00e9e par V\u00f6lkerkundemuseum der Universit\u00e4t Z\u00fcrich (@uzh_musethno)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Fourteen of the pieces came from the Ethnographic Museum at the University of Zurich, two from the Museum Rietberg Zurich, and two from the Mus\u00e9e d\u2019Ethnographie de Gen\u00e8ve.<\/p>\n<p>The 18 artefacts are part of the country\u2019s famous Benin Bronzes, a group of hundreds of sculptures and plaques mostly made of metal and ivory that decorated the royal palace of the Kingdom of Benin, now the Southern Nigerian Edo state. They performed political and religious functions and were essential to the kingdom&#8217;s power.<\/p>\n<p>British colonial forces stole most of these objects during a brutal punitive expedition that killed thousands of people in 1897.<\/p>\n<p>After the violent raid, the Kingdom of Benin was absorbed into colonial Nigeria. The stolen pieces were eventually sold to over 130 museums in 20 countries, mostly in the <strong>United Kingdom<\/strong> and Germany.<\/p>\n<p>The handover ceremony in Lagos also included the restitution of a bronze bracelet and four archaeological monoliths from Nigeria\u2019s Niger Delta region which were \u201cseized in Switzerland as part of criminal proceedings and subsequently transferred to the state,\u201d the Swiss Federal Department of Home Affairs said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>Switzerland and Nigeria also signed a cooperation agreement aiming to further the protection of cultural heritage, as part of \u201ca broader effort to address historical injustice.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-freeform\nwidget--size-fullwidth\nwidget--align-center\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DaMFyhRDP9v\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>Voir cette publication sur Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Une publication partag\u00e9e par National Commission for Museums and Monuments Nigeria HQ (@ncmmhq)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>A decades-long restitution battle<\/h2>\n<p>Art historians have shown that African states\u2019 and communities\u2019 calls for the return of artefacts looted during the colonial period are as old as the thefts themselves. But effective returns have only started to materialise in recent years, with Nigeria among the countries at the forefront of this struggle.<\/p>\n<p>Last year, <strong>the Netherlands returned 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria<\/strong>, the largest physical restitution of such artefacts to the country to date.<\/p>\n<p>In February 2026, the University of Cambridge transferred legal ownership of 116 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria\u2019s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), with the physical transfer still to be arranged.<\/p>\n<p>Other African countries have had wins in that field. Benin received 26 royal treasures from France in 2021, a process depicted in <strong>Mati Diop\u2019s award-winning documentary <em>Dahomey<\/em><\/strong>. French colonial troops had stolen the pieces during the 1892 colonisation of the Dahomey kingdom. <\/p>\n<p>Earlier this year, <strong>French authorities<\/strong> also returned the Djidji Ay\u00f4kw\u00e9, a sacred talking drum, to Ivory Coast, 110 years after it was seized by colonial authorities.<\/p>\n<p>But the restitution battle remains plagued by reservations and conflicts. Nigeria sent a formal repatriation request to <strong>the British Museum<\/strong> in October 2021. The institution retains over 900 objects from the Kingdom of Benin, including 203 Benin Bronzes, but has so far refused to return them under the argument that its collections are legally unalienable.<\/p>\n<p>Ownership disputes can go on even after the repatriation is completed. In November 2025, protesters disrupted the opening of the Museum of West African Art in Nigeria\u2019s Benin City over claims that its handling of repatriated artefacts violated the authority of the city\u2019s traditional rulers. The museum\u2019s launch was postponed sine die.<\/p>\n<p>Some of the artefacts returned by Switzerland on Monday will be on display at the National Museum in Lagos, while most of them will return to their original home in Edo State, where they will be temporarily stored at the National Museum in Benin City. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe NCMM plans to establish a world-class gallery to display all the recently returned Benin Artefacts, which will include not only the Swiss returns but also the artefacts returned last year from the Netherlands and the expected Cambridge returns,\u201d said the Swiss Federal Department of Home Affairs.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\">\n    <span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><\/p>\n<p>      <span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><br \/>\n    <\/span><\/p>\n<p>        <span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><\/p>\n<p>        <span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__container\">\n<article id=\"abe-2892217-pos0-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2892217\" data-cid=\"9751641\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2892217-label-pos0-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\">\n<p>      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" 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class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Colonialism<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  looted art<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Nigeria<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto tp-outbrain\">\n<div class=\"tp-article-outbrain OUTBRAIN\" data-is-secured=\"true\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/2026\/06\/30\/switzerland-returns-18-looted-benin-bronzes-to-nigeria\" data-widget-id=\"AR_29\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"tp-vuukle\">\n<div class=\"js-vuukle-container\" id=\"vuukle-comments-2906049\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"vuukle-newsfeed-2906049\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div 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data-nid=\"2905594\" data-cid=\"9816657\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    2,500-year-old bronze chariot unearthed<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-3\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div data-ad-id=\"adzone-halfpage_3\" data-ad-type=\"halfpage\" data-ad-position=\"3\" class=\"c-ad__adzone optidigital-halfpage-3 advertising js-adzone\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\">\n        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><br \/>\n        <span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div data-ad-id=\"adzone-position\" data-ad-type=\"classic\" class=\"c-ad__adzone advertising optidigital-bottom-3\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><br \/>\n          <span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span>\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/aside><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2892217-pos0-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2892217\" data-cid=\"9751641\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2892217-label-pos0-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\">\n<p>      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/75\/16\/41\/480x270_cmsv2_439dd060-6d9e-5697-ae78-62e2b6890da3-9751641.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"France confronts Nazi-looted art legacy in new Mus\u00e9e d\u2019Orsay gallery\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/p>\n<p>                      <span class=\"c-icon-video the-media-object__icon\"><\/span><br \/>\n            <\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Art<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    France confronts Nazi-looted art legacy in new Mus\u00e9e d\u2019Orsay gallery<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2886355-pos1-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2886355\" data-cid=\"9722776\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2886355-label-pos1-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\">\n<p>      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/72\/27\/76\/480x270_cmsv2_7c957805-25f8-52fb-90fb-739ac4394ac0-9722776.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"FILE- A visitor looks at wooden royal statues of the Dahomey kingdom, dated 19th century, at the Quai Branly museum in Paris, France, November, 2018.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Culture news<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    France passes bill on restitution of art looted during colonial era<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2842650-pos2-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2842650\" data-cid=\"9530924\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2842650-label-pos2-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\">\n<p>      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/53\/09\/24\/480x270_cmsv2_aec43854-28a4-5724-8b4c-b2626997485c-9530924.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Outside view of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, United States, 29 March 2023\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Art<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Jewish heirs sue Met Museum and Greek foundation over looted painting<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2906002-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2906002\" data-cid=\"9818466\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2906002-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\">\n<p>      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/84\/66\/320x180_cmsv2_88c0649d-0f09-5937-8b81-0d25d2d37a44-9818466.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Naomi Osaka wows Wimbledon crowd with \u2018Kill Bill\u2019 inspired kimono \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Naomi Osaka wows Wimbledon crowd with \u2018Kill Bill\u2019 inspired kimono<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2906131-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2906131\" data-cid=\"9819242\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2906131-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\">\n<p>      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/92\/42\/320x180_cmsv2_a81aae9b-c311-5bc8-ae34-57247f0f3b9e-9819242.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Scientists were able to decipher the fragile scroll without unrolling it.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    AI helps scientists decipher papyrus scroll burnt in Vesuvius eruption<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2906030-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2906030\" data-cid=\"9818642\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2906030-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\">\n<p>      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/86\/42\/320x180_cmsv2_22b4b9d1-c18b-522f-9759-dd04e74ea024-9818642.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Donald Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum tour the East Potomac Park golf course - Sunday 28 June 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    In the rough: Critics outraged at Donald Trump\u2019s latest golf project<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905881-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905881\" data-cid=\"9817936\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905881-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\">\n<p>      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/79\/36\/320x180_cmsv2_eb2b64f7-e3d7-5729-918f-4c1dfeae892a-9817936.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Danish flags are attached to the spire of Christiansborg Castle, the Danish Parliament building in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sept. 5, 2021.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/p>\n<p>                      <span class=\"c-icon-video the-media-object__icon\"><\/span><br \/>\n            <\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Denmark\u2019s Christian coming-of-age ritual gets a secular rethink<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905865-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905865\" data-cid=\"9817833\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905865-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\">\n<p>      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/78\/33\/320x180_cmsv2_525a9f81-636c-575c-9b2f-02199bf264f3-9817833.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Hot wax: Are your vinyls at risk during a heatwave?\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Hot wax: Are your vinyls at risk during a heatwave?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2904571-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2904571\" data-cid=\"9812055\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Madrid, Woody Allen&#8217;s new cinematic muse<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905881-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905881\" data-cid=\"9817936\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Denmark\u2019s Christian coming-of-age ritual gets a secular rethink<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2904505-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2904505\" data-cid=\"9811457\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Cate Blanchett launches free tool to protect identity from AI<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2869731-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2869731\" data-cid=\"9648318\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    &#8216;A heartbreaking loss&#8217;: Celebrities pay tribute to James Van Der Beek<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905594-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905594\" data-cid=\"9816657\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    2,500-year-old bronze chariot unearthed<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">Nigeria\u2019s stolen cultural heritage is slowly coming back home.On Monday, Swiss authorities returned 18 artefacts looted during the colonial era to Nigeria in a ceremony at the National Museum in Lagos.The restitution is the result of a collaborative process between Swiss museums and their Nigerian partners under the Benin Initiative Switzerland. The programme was launched in 2021 to investigate the provenance of Benin objects in Swiss collections.Monday\u2019s ceremony marked the first step in the implementation of an agreement signed in March 2026, in which Switzerland agreed to eventually transfer ownership of 28 pieces to Nigeria.\u201cThe return of our cultural heritage marks more than the recovery of artefacts. It reflects the power of dialogue, trust, and international cooperation,\u201d Nigeria\u2019s culture minister Hannatu Musa Musawa said on X.Fourteen of the pieces came from the Ethnographic Museum at the University of Zurich, two from the Museum Rietberg Zurich, and two from the Mus\u00e9e d\u2019Ethnographie de Gen\u00e8ve.The 18 artefacts are part of the country\u2019s famous Benin Bronzes, a group of hundreds of sculptures and plaques mostly made of metal and ivory that decorated the royal palace of the Kingdom of Benin, now the Southern Nigerian Edo state. They performed political and religious functions and were essential to the kingdom&#8217;s power.British colonial forces stole most of these objects during a brutal punitive expedition that killed thousands of people in 1897.After the violent raid, the Kingdom of Benin was absorbed into colonial Nigeria. The stolen pieces were eventually sold to over 130 museums in 20 countries, mostly in the United Kingdom and Germany.The handover ceremony in Lagos also included the restitution of a bronze bracelet and four archaeological monoliths from Nigeria\u2019s Niger Delta region which were \u201cseized in Switzerland as part of criminal proceedings and subsequently transferred to the state,\u201d the Swiss Federal Department of Home Affairs said in a statement.Switzerland and Nigeria also signed a cooperation agreement aiming to further the protection of cultural heritage, as part of \u201ca broader effort to address historical injustice.\u201dA decades-long restitution battleArt historians have shown that African states\u2019 and communities\u2019 calls for the return of artefacts looted during the colonial period are as old as the thefts themselves. But effective returns have only started to materialise in recent years, with Nigeria among the countries at the forefront of this struggle.Last year, the Netherlands returned 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, the largest physical restitution of such artefacts to the country to date.In February 2026, the University of Cambridge transferred legal ownership of 116 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria\u2019s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), with the physical transfer still to be arranged.Other African countries have had wins in that field. Benin received 26 royal treasures from France in 2021, a process depicted in Mati Diop\u2019s award-winning documentary Dahomey. French colonial troops had stolen the pieces during the 1892 colonisation of the Dahomey kingdom.Earlier this year, French authorities also returned the Djidji Ay\u00f4kw\u00e9, a sacred talking drum, to Ivory Coast, 110 years after it was seized by colonial authorities.But the restitution battle remains plagued by reservations and conflicts. Nigeria sent a formal repatriation request to the British Museum in October 2021. The institution retains over 900 objects from the Kingdom of Benin, including 203 Benin Bronzes, but has so far refused to return them under the argument that its collections are legally unalienable.Ownership disputes can go on even after the repatriation is completed. In November 2025, protesters disrupted the opening of the Museum of West African Art in Nigeria\u2019s Benin City over claims that its handling of repatriated artefacts violated the authority of the city\u2019s traditional rulers. The museum\u2019s launch was postponed sine die.Some of the artefacts returned by Switzerland on Monday will be on display at the National Museum in Lagos, while most of them will return to their original home in Edo State, where they will be temporarily stored at the National Museum in Benin City.\u201cThe NCMM plans to establish a world-class gallery to display all the recently returned Benin Artefacts, which will include not only the Swiss returns but also the artefacts returned last year from the Netherlands and the expected Cambridge returns,\u201d said the Swiss Federal Department of Home Affairs.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/2026\/06\/30\/switzerland-returns-18-looted-benin-bronzes-to-nigeria&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/88\/03\/1200x675_cmsv2_0807abd4-9a3c-5b87-879f-4d2f1dccb8eb-9818803.jpg&#8221;] Cyprus Two gas fields off Cyprus could start production by 2033 Tech News Finland&#8217;s last analogue landline phones go silent after 150 years Residences Italy\u2019s luxury portfolio expands with Hyatt, IHG and Dior Spa openings No Comment South African protesters call for undocumented migrants to leave Cyprus Two gas fields off Cyprus [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-2019426","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2019426","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2019426"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2019426\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2019426"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2019426"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2019426"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}