ABSTRACT
This chapter shows the complexity of the matter is not solved by individual museums, but depends on a much larger political and legal framework affecting the colonial period that cannot be solved by single cultural institutions, each with their own different structure of governance and ownership of collections. In 2002, the Nigerian Parliament had called on President Obasanjo to demand the return of the Benin treasures at the BM. A recurrent argument from Nigerian politicians and museum professionals for the return of Benin antiquities are the enormous potential they see in cultural heritage to trigger tourism. The Benin exhibition in 200708 marked a turning point in the exhibition and concurring publishing practices of museums with regard to Benin artworks. The theme of the International Museum Day in 2014, 'museum collections make connections', perfectly invoked the spirit and should be the promise for the future.
