Ancestral head of an Oba or King made from Copper alloy about 350 years ago from the Kingdom of Benin (now part of Nigeria) Africa. Displayed in Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.

"In 1897, British traders entered Benin during a religious festival. This was against the wishes of the Benin people and the traders were killed. As a result the British government ordered an attack (Punitive Expedition). British naval troops took all the brass, wooden sculpture, and burned the royal palace. The Oba was exiled and the British took control of the ancient Kingdom of Benin. The British government sold the sculptures to pay for the war. These can now be seen in museums around the world.

Today Benin is part of modern Nigeria and there are frequent requests from the Nigerian government and others to return the sculptures to their homeland."

Who do you think rightfully owns the sculpture(s)? If you were the British government, what would you do? A friend argued it shouldn't be returned and it's better that it stay in the Bristol Museum so more people can see it. Yes, we are amazed at seeing these wonderful works of art but does it really mean more to us than it does to the people and culture that created it? Will we feel the same emotion as the people of "Benin" would when they look at this ancestral treasure knowing it is part their culture and of who they are? Food for thought. :)

This sculpture and the controversy that goes with it made an impression on me during my visit to the museum today. So I thought it only fitting to have it as my blip. Besides, I don't have any worthy shots of Bristol as the Sun abandoned me today. May tomorrow see it shining again, please?! :)