Photo source : ©presidencebenin
Cotonou, Benin – May 13, 2025
In a gesture of cultural restitution and historical recognition, Minister of Science and Culture Mari-Leena Talvitie of Finland travelled to Benin in May 2025 to formally return a significant cultural artifact—the Kataklè, a three-legged royal ceremonial stool once used in the coronation of kings in the former Kingdom of Dahomey.
The Journey of the Kataklè
Photo source : Photo source : ©presidencebenin
The Kataklè, emblematic of power, unity, and stability in the Dahomean monarchy, was originally looted in 1892 by French colonial troops under General Alfred Dodds during the invasion of Abomey, the kingdom’s capital. In 1939, it was transferred from France’s Musée de l’Homme to the National Museum of Finland through a museum exchange that involved roughly 50 artifacts.
The Kataklè was officially handed over during a ceremonial event at the Marina Palace in Cotonou on May 13, 2025, marking over 133 years since it had left Beninese soil. The return coincided with the 25th anniversary of Villa Karo, the Finnish Institute for West Africa, which Minister Talvitie also visited during her trip. Preparations for the repatriation began during a visit by Benin’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, to Finland in November 2024.
A Legal and Symbolic Milestone
The return of the Kataklè was not without legal complexity. Initially thought to still belong to the French national collections due to the lack of a formal transfer of ownership in the 1939 exchange, a novel solution emerged: the Quai Branly Museum simply struck the object from its inventory, allowing it to be legally transferred without requiring new French legislation. This maneuver sidestepped France’s otherwise stringent laws on the inalienability of national collections.
This development has prompted questions about broader legal strategies for returning African cultural artifacts held in European institutions. Could similar administrative methods be used to facilitate the return of other contested items?
The Kingdom of Dahomey and the Legacy of Loot
Now known as Benin, the country was formerly the Kingdom of Dahomey, a powerful West African state from the 17th to 19th centuries. Following colonization by France in 1894, Dahomey became part of French West Africa and later gained independence in 1960. The Kingdom’s rich cultural heritage includes ceremonial regalia, such as the Kataklè, and the famed Benin Bronzes.
Restitution and the Benin Bronzes
The return of the Kataklè follows growing global pressure on museums to return African artifacts looted during colonization and the Atlantic slave trade. Among the most notable of these are the Benin Bronzes, a vast collection of brass, bronze, ivory, and wood artifacts that once adorned the Royal Palace of Benin (modern-day Benin City in Nigeria).
The Benin Bronzes were taken during the British invasion of Benin in 1897 and are now held in major institutions including the British Museum, which alone possesses over 900 pieces. Many were commissioned for ancestral altars and royal rituals, and they represent a sophisticated artistic and historical tradition that spans centuries.
Although several European museums have pledged to return these artifacts, full restitution has been slow and often entangled in legal and political hurdles.
Cultural Identity and the Path Forward
For Benin and other African nations, the return of objects like the Kataklè is more than symbolic—it is a restoration of cultural dignity and identity. The chair is now considered the 27th royal treasure of Abomey to be returned, joining the 26 previously restituted pieces from France in 2021.
The story of the Kataklè’s return has inspired renewed debate about how museums and nations should handle the restitution of colonial-era acquisitions. It underscores the importance of provenance research, international cooperation, and legal innovation in achieving historical justice.
As Minister Talvitie noted during the handover ceremony, cultural diplomacy can bridge past injustices and foster deeper partnerships between nations. For Benin, this return reaffirms the enduring legacy of its royal traditions and the possibility of healing historical wounds—one artifact at a time.
