A review by danielb
The Brutish Museums: The Benin Bronzes, Colonial Violence and Cultural Restitution by Dan Hicks

challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.0

Engages with an important issue in the ongoing impact of colonialism in the display of material. It covers a lot of ground, but manages to convey a message calling for action regarding the restitution/repatriation of looted objects - emphasising the British Protectorates and Companies in Western Africa and how the material from the campaigns is publicly displayed. The focal point of the book is Benin 1897, the legacy of material taken/looted from the affected communities (Benin City, Bida, Ilorin, etc.) and how museums should behave/function in the 21st century, including the future role of “universal museums”