The Benin bronze or ‘okukor’ was stolen from Benin City, now Nigeria, in the 19th century and given to Cambridge University’s Jesus College.

Jesus College, a college affiliated to Cambridge University will return a bronze cockerel the British looted from Benin City in the 19th century.

According to the BBC, the cockerel which is referred to as the ‘Benin okukor’ was removed from display in the college back in 2016 after students and academics who are part of the ‘Legacy of Slavery Working Party (LSWP) took a vote and insisted it is repatriated to Nigeria.

This followed shortly after students at Oxford University had called for the removal of the statue of British colonialist Cecil John Rhodes from Oriel College.

Speaking about the bronze cockerel which stood for years in the main hall of Jesus College, Master of Jesus College Sonita Alleyne says:

“We are an honest community, and after a thorough investigation into the provenance of the Benin bronze, our job is to seek the best way forward.”

Sonita Alleyne

She denied that the college was attempting to erase history and claimed that the decision to return the Benin bronze was a result of the LSWP’s work.