Germany to return Benin Bronzes looted during colonial era

Three pieces of Benin Bronzes are displayed at Museum for Art and Crafts in Hamburg, Germany, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018. Germany is returning hundreds of artifacts known as Benin Bronzes that were mostly looted from western Africa by a British colonial expedition and subsequently sold to collections around the world, including German museums. (Daniel Bockwoldt/dpa via AP)

Germany is returning hundreds of artifacts known as the Benin Bronzes that were mostly looted from west Africa by a British colonial expedition and subsequently sold to collections around the world, including German museums, authorities said.

Foreign minister Heiko Maas welcomed a deal reached with museums and authorities in Nigeria to work on a restitution plan for a substantial number of artifacts, calling it a “turning point in dealing with our colonial history”.