German version below/Deutscher Einführungstext unten
To conclude the research project of the same name, the conference ‚The Benin Bronzes. Globalising the Colonial Looting of Art‘ will take place on 25./26. October 2022 in the lecture hall of the Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek Hamburg. The project members and other experts from Germany and Nigeria will present current research on how the British Army looted the bronzes of the Palace of the Kingdom of Benin in 1807 and on their sale and perception. They will also address current debates on restitution and political consequences in an evening lecture and panel discussion. The conference is organized by Prof. Dr. Jürgen Zimmerer and the Research Center ‚Hamburgs (post-)Colonial Legacy/Hamburg and Early Globalization‘.
If you are interested in attending the conference, please register at kolonialismus@uni-hamburg.de by 16. October.
Zum Abschluss des gleichnamigen Forschungsprojekts findet am 25./26. Oktober 2022 im Vortragsraum der Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek Hamburg die Tagung ‚The Benin Bronzes. Globalising the Colonial Looting of Art’ statt. Die Projektmitglieder und weitere Fachleute aus Deutschland und Nigeria stellen aktuelle Forschung zur Plünderung der Bronzen des Palastes des Königreichs Benin 1897 durch die britische Armee, ihrem Verkauf und ihrer Wahrnehmung vor. Zudem widmen sie sich in Abendvortrag und Diskussionsrunde den aktuellen Debatten um Restitution und politische Folgen. Organisiert wird die Konferenz von Prof. Dr. Jürgen Zimmerer und dem Projektverbund Forschungsstelle ‚Hamburgs (post-)koloniales Erbe/Hamburg und die frühe Globalisierung‘.
Bei Interesse an einem Besuch der Konferenz melden Sie sich bitte bis 16.10.22 unter kolonialismus@uni-hamburg.de an.
The Benin Bronzes
Globalising the Colonial Looting of Art
International Conference, 25./26.10.22
Research Center Hamburg (Post-)Colonial Legacy, University of Hamburg – Prof. Dr. Jürgen Zimmerer
Location: SUB Hamburg, Vortragsraum
Preliminary Programme:
| 25.10.22 | Introduction: Dr. Julian zur Lage/Friederike Odenwald (UHH) Colonial Looting – Soldiers and Traders in the Contact Zones Dr. Idahosa Osagie Ojo (Benson Idahosa University, Benin City/NDA Kaduna) Topic: The Colonial Looting and Internationalisation of the Benin Bronze Sculptures Dr. Julia Binter (SPK Berlin) Topic: Trade, Imperial Contact and Relating to the Past in the Niger Delta Panel Host: Paula Dahl (UHH) Coffee break Keynote by Dr. Kwame Opoku: The Benin Bronzes, Restitution and Decolonization. The Debate on Colonial Loot and Reparations Conference Dinner | 14:30 15:00 17:00 18:00 19:30 |
| 26.10.22 | Traders and Markets – Moving Colonial Loot Topic: Trade Networks of the Benin Bronzes since 1897 Talip Törün (ZLB Berlin) Topic: German Maritime Markets for non-European Artefacts Panel Host: Julian zur Lage (UHH) Lunch break Shifting the paradigm – Layers of Identity in Looted Objects Sani Yakubu Adam (Bayero University Kano) Topic: Colonial Loot and Competing Narratives of African Art Isabel Eiser (UHH) Topic: Becoming an Emblem. From Colonial Propaganda to Decolonial Movement. A Discourse Analysis on the ‚Benin Bronzes‘ Panel Host: Dr. Diana M. Natermann (UHH) Coffee break Concluding Discussion: Loot and Restitution – Where do we go from here? Prof. Dr. Kokunre Agbontaen Eghafona (University of Benin) Prof. Dr. Osarhieme Benson Osadolor (University of Benin) Prof. Dr. Barbara Plankensteiner (MARKK Hamburg) Prof. Dr. Ojong Echum Tangban (NDA Kaduna) Prof. Dr. Jürgen Zimmerer (UHH) Panel Host: Dr. Diana M. Natermann (UHH) Buffet | 11:00 12:00 13:30 15:30 16:00 18:00 |
Please note: Due to some unfortunate absences, the programm had to be adapted.