Belgium's Colonial Art: The Case of the Benin Bronzes

The History of Belgium: A Small Country with a Giant Colonial Legacy — Fexingo History · Oct 28, 2026 · 7m · transcript

While previous episodes have dissected the brutal mechanics of the Congo Free State and the political unraveling of the 1960 Crisis, this episode turns its gaze toward the cultural artifacts that remain as tangible evidence of colonial extraction. We explore the complex history of Belgium’s relationship with the Benin Bronzes, focusing on the 1897 British Punitive Expedition and the subsequent dispersal of these masterpieces across European museums. Lucas and Luna trace the journey of specific bronzes from the Oba’s palace in Benin City to the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Tervuren…