On May 28, 2024, the Restitution Study Group, Inc., a New York-based reparatory justice organization led by Deadria Farmer-Paellmann, filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, requesting a review of the decision to return the Benin Bronzes to Nigeria. The RSG claims a historical connection to the bronzes, arguing that Benin Kingdom slave traders acquired these artifacts as payment in exchange for the enslaved ancestors of Farmer-Paellmann and others represented in the case. According to the group, this link gives them a stake in the fate of the bronzes, as they represent a painful legacy tied to the history of slavery and exploitation.
Image courtesy of Digital Benin
Following a ruling by the district court, which also denied their attempts to block the restitution of the Benin bronzes, the RSG had no choice but to appeal to the US Supreme Court. Claiming significance in the ancestral lineage of Black Americans due to the transatlantic slave trade, the RSG has been fighting the return of the Benin bronzes back to Benin.
Stating the details of the petition earlier this year, RSG Counsel argued:
“This case challenges the power of the Smithsonian to independently create its art repatriation policy without even a public hearing or Congressional approval. We are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to decide if the Smithsonian has unilateral and arbitrary power to give America’s art and science collection to foreign countries (In this case, Nigeria), even where large numbers of Americans, such as U.S. descendants of enslaved people, claim a close and intimate connection with the art objects,”
This decision effectively by the US Supreme Court closed the door on any further legal challenges by Farmer-Paellmann and the Restitution Study Group. This means that their efforts to stop the restitution of Benin relics back to Nigeria are halted. As a result, the Smithsonian can move forward with its plans to return the 29 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria.
Image courtesy of Digital Benin
This case marks a significant moment in the ongoing global debate over the restitution of African artifacts. While the decision affirms the Smithsonian’s authority to return the bronzes, it also highlights the complex and deeply emotional questions surrounding the rightful ownership and cultural significance of these items, particularly about the legacy of colonialism and slavery.
Click here to learn more about the Restitution of Benin Ancient Relics.
