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Benin Bronze row: Cambridge college removes cockerel Benin Bronze row: Cambridge college removes cockerel
(35 minutes later)
A controversial bronze cockerel that was looted from Africa in the 19th century and has long stood in the hall of a Cambridge college has been removed following calls from students for it to be repatriated.A controversial bronze cockerel that was looted from Africa in the 19th century and has long stood in the hall of a Cambridge college has been removed following calls from students for it to be repatriated.
The university agreed that the statue, known as the Benin Bronze, should be taken down from the hall in Jesus College on Tuesday and that discussions should get under way to decide the future of the statue, including possible repatriation to Africa.The university agreed that the statue, known as the Benin Bronze, should be taken down from the hall in Jesus College on Tuesday and that discussions should get under way to decide the future of the statue, including possible repatriation to Africa.
Last month, in a move that echoed the Rhodes Must Fall campaign in Oxford to remove a statue of the Victorian imperialist Cecil Rhodes, the Jesus College student union (JCSU) passed a motion saying that the sculpture should be handed over to Nigeria in a repatriation ceremony.Last month, in a move that echoed the Rhodes Must Fall campaign in Oxford to remove a statue of the Victorian imperialist Cecil Rhodes, the Jesus College student union (JCSU) passed a motion saying that the sculpture should be handed over to Nigeria in a repatriation ceremony.
Oriel College in Oxford, site of the Rhodes statue, turned down student demands to remove the statue. In contrast, at Cambridge, after a meeting of the council at Jesus College, the university announced on Tuesday that the cockerel – properly known as the Okukor – would be removed permanently.Oriel College in Oxford, site of the Rhodes statue, turned down student demands to remove the statue. In contrast, at Cambridge, after a meeting of the council at Jesus College, the university announced on Tuesday that the cockerel – properly known as the Okukor – would be removed permanently.
A university spokesperson said: “Jesus College acknowledges the contribution made by students in raising the important but complex question of the rightful location of its Benin Bronze, in response to which it has permanently removed the Okukor from its hall.A university spokesperson said: “Jesus College acknowledges the contribution made by students in raising the important but complex question of the rightful location of its Benin Bronze, in response to which it has permanently removed the Okukor from its hall.
“The college commits to work actively with the wider university and to commit resources to new initiatives with Nigerian heritage and museum authorities to discuss and determine the best future for the Okukor, including the question of repatriation.“The college commits to work actively with the wider university and to commit resources to new initiatives with Nigerian heritage and museum authorities to discuss and determine the best future for the Okukor, including the question of repatriation.
“The college strongly endorses the inclusion of students from all relevant communities in such discussion.”“The college strongly endorses the inclusion of students from all relevant communities in such discussion.”
The cockerel was among hundreds of artworks taken from the Benin empire, now part of Nigeria, after a British naval expedition in 1897 that destroyed the kingdom. Nigeria has repeatedly called for all the Benin bronzes – which it says are part of its cultural heritage – to be repatriated in the same way that Greece has pursued the return of the Parthenon marbles.The cockerel was among hundreds of artworks taken from the Benin empire, now part of Nigeria, after a British naval expedition in 1897 that destroyed the kingdom. Nigeria has repeatedly called for all the Benin bronzes – which it says are part of its cultural heritage – to be repatriated in the same way that Greece has pursued the return of the Parthenon marbles.
The proposal that Jesus College students voted on said: “The contemporary political culture surrounding colonialism and social justice, combined with the university’s global agenda, offers a perfect opportunity for the college to benefit from this gesture.”The proposal that Jesus College students voted on said: “The contemporary political culture surrounding colonialism and social justice, combined with the university’s global agenda, offers a perfect opportunity for the college to benefit from this gesture.”
Meanwhile, students campaigning for the removal of the Rhodes statue at Oriel College in Oxford are staging what they are calling a “Mass March for Decolonisation” with an alternative walking tour of Oxford. Hundreds of protesters are expected to take part in Wednesday’s demonstration, which will take in other buildings in Oxford that campaigners say reflect the university’s links with Britain’s colonial past.Meanwhile, students campaigning for the removal of the Rhodes statue at Oriel College in Oxford are staging what they are calling a “Mass March for Decolonisation” with an alternative walking tour of Oxford. Hundreds of protesters are expected to take part in Wednesday’s demonstration, which will take in other buildings in Oxford that campaigners say reflect the university’s links with Britain’s colonial past.
The tour will kick off at Oriel College, site of the controversial Rhodes statue, before moving on to Radcliffe Square outside All Souls College’s Codrington library, which is named after a 17th-century slave owner who left a bequest to the college.The tour will kick off at Oriel College, site of the controversial Rhodes statue, before moving on to Radcliffe Square outside All Souls College’s Codrington library, which is named after a 17th-century slave owner who left a bequest to the college.
Protesters will then move on to Rhodes House in Oxford, home of the Rhodes Scholarships and Rhodes Trust, and finally to Wellington Square, where the university administration is based, to hand in a series of demands.Protesters will then move on to Rhodes House in Oxford, home of the Rhodes Scholarships and Rhodes Trust, and finally to Wellington Square, where the university administration is based, to hand in a series of demands.
Among their demands, campaigners are calling on the university to address curriculum change and low levels of representation of black and minority ethnic students. Earlier this year, David Cameron, who studied at Brasenose College, said it was “striking” that Oxford university’s 2014 intake of more than 2,500 included only 27 black students.Among their demands, campaigners are calling on the university to address curriculum change and low levels of representation of black and minority ethnic students. Earlier this year, David Cameron, who studied at Brasenose College, said it was “striking” that Oxford university’s 2014 intake of more than 2,500 included only 27 black students.
The Rhodes Must Fall campaign suffered a blow in January when Oriel College ruled against removing the statue of the controversial figure amid claims that it was being influenced by “a dictatorship of donors” who threatened to withdraw funds.The Rhodes Must Fall campaign suffered a blow in January when Oriel College ruled against removing the statue of the controversial figure amid claims that it was being influenced by “a dictatorship of donors” who threatened to withdraw funds.
Campaigners have, however, taken heart from Harvard, where the law school has decided to alter its official shield following months of protest at the symbol’s ties to an 18th-century slaveholder. Welcoming the move, a Rhodes Must Fall spokesman said: “It’s a different place but what it shows is that it is possible for institutions to take responsibility for the past, and it shows a possible path forward for Oxford.”Campaigners have, however, taken heart from Harvard, where the law school has decided to alter its official shield following months of protest at the symbol’s ties to an 18th-century slaveholder. Welcoming the move, a Rhodes Must Fall spokesman said: “It’s a different place but what it shows is that it is possible for institutions to take responsibility for the past, and it shows a possible path forward for Oxford.”
In Cambridge, as well as the row over the Benin cockerel at Jesus College, at Christ’s College there have been reports of a call for a memorial fund left by Jan Smuts, a South African general and statesman, to be severed. Meanwhile, students at Royal Holloway, University of London, denied that there was a campaign to remove a statue of Queen Victoria for her part in Britain’s colonial past, as has been reported.
The Rhodes Must Fall campaign welcomed the wider debate that had been triggered. “We see this as the beginning of a reckoning with Britain’s involvement with its colonial past,” a spokesman said.The Rhodes Must Fall campaign welcomed the wider debate that had been triggered. “We see this as the beginning of a reckoning with Britain’s involvement with its colonial past,” a spokesman said.
A Oxford university spokesperson said the university supported the right to lawful, peaceful protest and reiterated its invitation to campaigners to engage in a joint discussion about current issues of representation facing the university.A Oxford university spokesperson said the university supported the right to lawful, peaceful protest and reiterated its invitation to campaigners to engage in a joint discussion about current issues of representation facing the university.
“We have invited Rhodes Must Fall to discuss a number of issues including the need to address the representation of BME students at the university; the ongoing process of curriculum development and welfare provision for BME students.“We have invited Rhodes Must Fall to discuss a number of issues including the need to address the representation of BME students at the university; the ongoing process of curriculum development and welfare provision for BME students.
“We hope they will accept the opportunity to work with staff and other students on creating a more inclusive university community.”“We hope they will accept the opportunity to work with staff and other students on creating a more inclusive university community.”