Gisela Williams and French photographer travelled to Benin to witness how the coming home of 26 stolen objects from France is indeed sparking a creative renaissance in the country.
The royal treasures were shown in the presidential palace as part of a world-class exhibition, Art of Benin from Yesterday and Today, which attracted more than 200,000 visitors in three months.
A contemporary section featured more than 100 works by 34 Beninese artists, such as Romuald Hazoumè and Emo de Medeiros. The exhibition was so successful that the government ministries staged it a second time.
“Rich, poor, young, old, everyone came. More than once,” says Marie-Cécile Zinsou, a French-Beninese art patron who was among those advocating for the treasure’s return. “It was really a turning point in the cultural history of Benin.”
