Mexico has announced the return of an ancient bronze Yoruba sculpture seized by customs agents at Mexico City airport.
According to The GuardianNG, sculpture, from the 6th century southwestern Yoruba city of Ife, shows a man wearing woven pants and a hat, sitting with his legs crossed and holding an instrument.
“Specialists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History determined that it was a piece of Yoruba origin,” Diego Prieto, head of the agency, told a press conference.
“A beautiful bronze piece, and that being of Nigerian heritage, it should return to its home.”
Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (Inah) tweeted a photo of the sculpture:
#PrensaINAH ?????
— INAHmx (@INAHmx) February 26, 2020
Restituye México pieza del pueblo yoruba a la República Federal de Nigeria; esta acción se suma al llamado mundial de retornar el legado patrimonial a su lugar de origen.
Más información ???? https://t.co/RSp1ywYr2G pic.twitter.com/NaPkVAiwQy
Officials did not offer more details about the sculpture’s exact origins or the circumstances of its confiscation.
“It was also determined that it had been illegally exported,” the Mexican foreign ministry said.
Nigerian Ambassador Aminu Iyawa acknowledged the work of the Mexican authorities in recovering the sculpture.
See additional image below:
