Welcome back to a new episode of pplpod! This week, we are diving deep into the profound history, unmatched craftsmanship, and ongoing controversy surrounding the Benin Bronzes. Originally adorning the royal palace of the Kingdom of Benin in modern-day Edo State, Nigeria, these thousands of intricate metal plaques, sculptures, and portrait heads represent some of the most significant and celebrated examples of African art.

Join us as we explore the golden ages of the Edo people and their masterful use of the lost-wax casting technique, a highly specialized method of bronze and brass metalworking that rivaled Renaissance Europe. We unpack the dark history of the 1897 British Expedition, a violent military campaign that destroyed Benin City and resulted in the looting of these sacred cultural heritage artifacts from the Oba of Benin.

We ...