Benin Reclaims Stolen 17th-century Royal Stool from Finland

In a landmark moment for cultural justice and Pan-African dignity, Finland has officially returned a stolen royal stool to Benin — a symbol of sovereignty taken by French colonial forces over a century ago from the Kingdom of Dahomey.

The kataklè, a three-legged ceremonial stool, once served as a portable throne in Dahomey’s royal court. It was a revered object, representing stability, legitimacy, and power — core values of leadership in the 17th-century West African kingdom located in present-day Benin.

The return was commemorated at a solemn ceremony in Cotonou on 13 May 2025, attended by Beninese and Finnish officials. “This is the epilogue, and we are now looking ahead to other areas of restitution, return and circulation,” declared Benin’s Minister of Culture, Jean-Michel Hervé Abimbola, as attendees applauded.

A Stolen Legacy

In 1892, French colonial troops stole 27 artefacts from the royal palace of Dahomey, including two kataklès, during their campaign to subjugate the kingdom. Most of these items were transported to France and housed at the Ethnographic Museum of the Trocadéro in Paris.

Although France agreed to return 26 of the artefacts in 2018 — and fulfilled this pledge in 2021 — one kataklè had been separated from the collection and eventually found its way into the National Museum of Finland.

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A Symbolic Return

“This act of restitution is a powerful demonstration of contemporary cultural policy rooted in justice and collaboration,” said Finland’s Minister of Science and Culture, Mari-Leena Talvitie. The return not only honours historical truth but sets a precedent for future returns of African heritage scattered across European institutions.

According to the National Museum of Finland, the kataklè is more than an object; it is a cultural embodiment of royal power. The King of Dahomey typically used a larger throne, but the portable kataklè held unique ceremonial significance in both palace rituals and public processions.

A Continental Demand for Justice

Benin has long championed the repatriation of thousands of its cultural treasures dispersed during colonial occupation. While some Western museums have begun cooperating, others continue to resist, citing concerns over preservation capacities in African nations — an argument widely criticised as patronising and outdated.

This return strengthens the broader Pan-African call for the restitution of stolen African heritage and renews the moral imperative for Western institutions to address their colonial legacies.

As Benin continues its journey to reclaim its stolen patrimony, the return of the kataklè represents more than a restitution of cultural property — it is a restoration of memory, identity, and African sovereignty.