This month, we'll look at artefacts that were taken from Africa. We wonder, "What are they?" What happened to them? And, more importantly, have they been returned?

The Benin Bronzes are a group of bronze sculptures and plaques looted from the Kingdom of Benin in 1897 by British forces. Many of these artifacts are now in museums and private collections throughout Europe and North America. 1/2

There has been increasing pressure in recent years to return them to their rightful owners. The University of Aberdeen in Scotland agreed to return a Benin Bronze to Nigeria in 2021, making it the first institution to do so. 2/2

After years of discussions and pressure from the Ethiopian government and international organizations, this historic obelisk that Italian fascists stole from Ethiopia in 1937 was finally returned to Ethiopia in 2005.

The Bust of Nefertiti is a well-known ancient Egyptian sculpture in 1912 by a German archaeologist. It was taken to Germany and has been on display at Berlin's Neues Museum since 1924.

The Egyptian government has asked for its return, but Germany has refused, claiming that the bust was obtained legally and is an important part of Germany's cultural heritage.

This is a historic stone cross located in Cape Cross, Namibia. It was erected in 1486 as a navigational landmark and taken by German colonizers to Germany in the 19th century, where it was displayed in a museum. It was returned in 1968 and placed back in Cape Cross.

The Golden Rhinoceros of Mapungubwe is a well-known artefact from the ancient Kingdom of Mapungubwe. It was looted by the British during the colonial period and stored at the British Museum for several decades, causing controversy.