Support our Museum Project for Benin Artifacts

In February of 1897, a British Expeditionary Force led by Sir Harry Rawson invaded the ancient kingdom of Benin in Nigeria, massacred many people, and looted thousands of locally crafted bronzes and other artifacts. These sacred objects are found in many museums around the world and are ready to come back home.

The Benin Cultural Heritage Center (BCHC) is a grassroots non-governmental, Not for Profit, Non-partisan socio-cultural organization founded to protect, preserve, and restore the cultural heritage of the Benin people. We have the blessings of the traditional rulers of the Benin Kingdom and the major stakeholders of our community.

We are seeking your support to complete a museum we started several years ago. The museum is designed in the style of the Eben, the Benin ceremonial sword. It is a two-level building with Eghodo, the traditional Benin courtyard. The museum will be built to international standards with temperature controls and a full security system to preserve and protect the artifacts. The museum also has administrative offices, some classrooms for teaching the Edo language to young children, a mini-theatre, a gift store, and a conference room. We have already started this project and we need funds to complete the project. 

The Ikhinmwin tree planted by the Iyase of Benin, Chief S. O.U Igbe on behalf of His Royal Majesty, Omo N'Oba Erediauwa, the Late Oba of Benin. 

The site of the project is Benin Bye-pass Expres road, Utekong, near Oluku, Ovia North East LGA, Edo State Nigeria. The land was donated by the late Oba of Benin and he gave his blessing to this project. During the groundbreaking ceremony of this project, the Oba of Benin sent his Prime Minister, the Iyase to represent him and the Ikhinmwin tree was planted. 

To find out more about our cultural center, please visit us at: Benin Cultural Heritage Center

The organization officially designated to raise money on behalf of BCHC is Africa Reads Books (DBA African-Caribbean Institute for Global Engagement) a 501 C(3) Non-Profit Organization registered in the State of New York and the State of Maryland, United States. All donations in the United States are federally tax exempt. Correspondences by surface mail should be sent to African-Caribbean Institute for Global Engagement, 53 Washington Street, Endicott, NY 13760.