The government of Benin has officially reactivated its demand for the restitution of 35 cultural assets and archival funds currently held in French public collections. This development follows a meeting between Benin's President Romuald Wadagni and French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée on October 5, 2026. The assets in question include several significant items, such as the statue of the god Gou, housed at the Louvre, a carved wooden divination plate from the Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac museum, and the throne of King Toffa of Porto-Novo.
In preparation for the negotiations, the Beninese government has established a National Scientific Committee comprising six members. This committee, installed on July 14, 2026, in Cotonou, is tasked with consolidating the historical, scientific, patrimonial, and legal arguments supporting the restitution of these cultural assets. The committee is chaired by Alain Godonou, a representative of the Presidency of the Republic. Other members include Djimmy Djiffa Edah, Director of Cultural Heritage, Franck Armel Afoukou, representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Paul Akogni, a specialist in intangible cultural heritage, and Didier Houénoudé and Marie-Cécile Zinsou.
The members of the committee were selected for their expertise in heritage, art history, and issues related to the restitution and circulation of cultural assets. Their role will be crucial in supporting the creation of a joint Franco-Beninese scientific commission. This commission will be responsible for examining the restitution dossiers for each item on the list. The French team, which will participate in the joint work, is currently being constituted, according to available information.
The renewed request for restitution comes against the backdrop of a new French law adopted in May 2026. This law simplifies the process for returning cultural assets that were illicitly appropriated, under certain conditions. The law allows for the instruction of these requests without the need for a specific law to be passed for each object. This development is seen as a positive step towards the potential return of the Beninese cultural assets.
The list of 35 cultural assets and archival funds claimed by Benin includes items of significant cultural and historical value. The statue of the god Gou, for instance, is a notable artifact currently housed at the Louvre. Similarly, the carved wooden divination plate at the Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac museum and the throne of King Toffa of Porto-Novo are important cultural items that Benin seeks to reclaim.
This new sequence of events follows the return of 26 works from the royal treasures of Abomey to Benin in November 2021. The precise calendar for examining the new list of 35 assets remains to be defined. The establishment of the joint scientific commission and the constitution of the French team are expected to precede further decisions regarding the restitution of these cultural assets.
The collaboration between Benin and France on the restitution of cultural assets is a significant development in the ongoing discussions about repatriation of cultural heritage. The involvement of a scientific committee in Benin and the forthcoming joint commission with France are critical steps in the process. The outcome of these negotiations will be closely watched, given the cultural and historical significance of the assets in question.
Key points
- The Beninese government has established a National Scientific Committee to support its claim for the restitution of 35 cultural assets from France.
- A new French law adopted in May 2026 simplifies the process for returning cultural assets that were illicitly appropriated.
- The precise calendar for examining the new list of 35 assets remains to be defined.
