Barnaby Phillips
@barnabyphillips.bsky.social
Journalist and author. 'Loot- Britain and the Benin Bronzes' & 'Another Man's War'..I was a correspondent based in Athens, Jo'burg Lagos, Luanda & Maputo..Now back in my native N1 #COYG
Extraordinary & beautiful new book on the woodcarvers of Benin City Nigeria, post-1897 British invasion. 'Their works were scattered around the world and, unlike the famous Bronzes, have not been the subject of scrutiny until now.' Michael Graham-Stewart.Abe Books www.abebooks.co.uk/first-editio...
October 30, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Extraordinary & beautiful new book on the woodcarvers of Benin City Nigeria, post-1897 British invasion. 'Their works were scattered around the world and, unlike the famous Bronzes, have not been the subject of scrutiny until now.' Michael Graham-Stewart.Abe Books www.abebooks.co.uk/first-editio...
A new plaque in the St Paul's Crypt; Kofoworola Abeni Pratt, pioneering nurse. Only the 5th woman in the crypt...and the first Nigerian (unless you count John Hawley Glover). Next to Florence Nightingale.
October 21, 2025 at 3:52 PM
A new plaque in the St Paul's Crypt; Kofoworola Abeni Pratt, pioneering nurse. Only the 5th woman in the crypt...and the first Nigerian (unless you count John Hawley Glover). Next to Florence Nightingale.
West Reservoir Hackney, 7 am swim. Bliss. And most encouragingly, the sky above full of swifts.
July 8, 2025 at 8:25 AM
West Reservoir Hackney, 7 am swim. Bliss. And most encouragingly, the sky above full of swifts.
Reports of the demise in the market in looted Benin Bronzes would appear to have been exaggerated. 357,500 Euros for plaque which had apparently belong to André Derain. Paris auction 25/6/25
www.gazette-drouot.com/en/auctions/...
www.gazette-drouot.com/en/auctions/...
June 29, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Reports of the demise in the market in looted Benin Bronzes would appear to have been exaggerated. 357,500 Euros for plaque which had apparently belong to André Derain. Paris auction 25/6/25
www.gazette-drouot.com/en/auctions/...
www.gazette-drouot.com/en/auctions/...
see my book 'Loot' on Derain and Benin Bronzes.
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June 23, 2025 at 3:13 PM
see my book 'Loot' on Derain and Benin Bronzes.
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This is extraordinary- Benin plaque for auction Paris 25/6/25. 'Late 16th or 17th century'- implication looted by the British 1897. Part of the famous collection of artist André Derain. drouot.com/en/l/2959701...
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June 23, 2025 at 3:13 PM
This is extraordinary- Benin plaque for auction Paris 25/6/25. 'Late 16th or 17th century'- implication looted by the British 1897. Part of the famous collection of artist André Derain. drouot.com/en/l/2959701...
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Alot of (not unjustified) talk of Broken Britain. So only fair to say that HM Passport office (painfully slow a few years ago) is now excellent. Filled out the form Thursday 5th at night, posted the old one in Friday, new one arrived today Weds 11th (regular service) bravo !
June 11, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Alot of (not unjustified) talk of Broken Britain. So only fair to say that HM Passport office (painfully slow a few years ago) is now excellent. Filled out the form Thursday 5th at night, posted the old one in Friday, new one arrived today Weds 11th (regular service) bravo !
You might like this exquisite torc, Asante, Ghana. Gold, almost 1 kg, royal regalia. Looted by the British army in 1874, bought by British Museum in 1877. Loaned back by BM to Asante king's museum in Kumasi Ghana in 2024, where I took this pic.
June 10, 2025 at 3:42 PM
You might like this exquisite torc, Asante, Ghana. Gold, almost 1 kg, royal regalia. Looted by the British army in 1874, bought by British Museum in 1877. Loaned back by BM to Asante king's museum in Kumasi Ghana in 2024, where I took this pic.
BTW, the best journalist's account, by far, of the Nigerian Civil War 1967-70
June 9, 2025 at 7:15 PM
BTW, the best journalist's account, by far, of the Nigerian Civil War 1967-70
When Frederick Forsyth was sent by the BBC to cover the Nigerian civil war (he on the Biafra side, Martin Bell on the federal side) he befriended Emeka Ojukwu and eventually wrote this v sympathetic biography
June 9, 2025 at 7:15 PM
When Frederick Forsyth was sent by the BBC to cover the Nigerian civil war (he on the Biafra side, Martin Bell on the federal side) he befriended Emeka Ojukwu and eventually wrote this v sympathetic biography
Thursday night London, this should be an interesting evening, do please come.
May 13, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Thursday night London, this should be an interesting evening, do please come.
Do come to this free screening of 'Dahomey' and discussion. 15/5/25, evening, central London
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dahomey-sc...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dahomey-sc...
May 6, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Do come to this free screening of 'Dahomey' and discussion. 15/5/25, evening, central London
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dahomey-sc...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dahomey-sc...
#PolicyExchange If you release a big new report 'Principles for Restitution' but are *still* confusing Republic of Benin with Benin City (Benin Bronzes) in #Nigeria, you will struggle to convince anyone of your knowledge of West Africa...arrggghh
April 14, 2025 at 9:09 AM
#PolicyExchange If you release a big new report 'Principles for Restitution' but are *still* confusing Republic of Benin with Benin City (Benin Bronzes) in #Nigeria, you will struggle to convince anyone of your knowledge of West Africa...arrggghh
#MetaBookThieves are using books we took years to write, without our permission, to train their A.I, and, who knows, make all authors redunant? Copyright piracy. Thank you @societyofauthors.bsky.social
April 3, 2025 at 1:45 PM
#MetaBookThieves are using books we took years to write, without our permission, to train their A.I, and, who knows, make all authors redunant? Copyright piracy. Thank you @societyofauthors.bsky.social
Netherlands to return 113 Benin Bronzes to #Nigeria.
"The objects will be returned to the Nigerian government, which will then decide how and where they will be displayed."
www.government.nl/latest/news/...
(photos @Wereldmuseum)
"The objects will be returned to the Nigerian government, which will then decide how and where they will be displayed."
www.government.nl/latest/news/...
(photos @Wereldmuseum)
February 19, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Netherlands to return 113 Benin Bronzes to #Nigeria.
"The objects will be returned to the Nigerian government, which will then decide how and where they will be displayed."
www.government.nl/latest/news/...
(photos @Wereldmuseum)
"The objects will be returned to the Nigerian government, which will then decide how and where they will be displayed."
www.government.nl/latest/news/...
(photos @Wereldmuseum)
If you're interested in the British empire, colonialism & the British Museum...and have not been to the BM's Hew Locke exhibition, do please go. It' v stimulating. Until Feb 9th. (And some great books on sale!)
January 12, 2025 at 8:31 AM
If you're interested in the British empire, colonialism & the British Museum...and have not been to the BM's Hew Locke exhibition, do please go. It' v stimulating. Until Feb 9th. (And some great books on sale!)
The Horniman museum, London opens a Great Benin Exhibition....with great Benin art, old & new. On 2nd anniversary of its transfer of ownership of Benin Bronzes to Nigeria.
December 5, 2024 at 9:16 PM
The Horniman museum, London opens a Great Benin Exhibition....with great Benin art, old & new. On 2nd anniversary of its transfer of ownership of Benin Bronzes to Nigeria.
Celebrations in Kumasi of centenary of King Prempeh's return from 28 yr exile (mainly) in the Seychelles and the endurance of the Asante kingdom...with the President of Seychelles.
November 23, 2024 at 5:25 PM
Celebrations in Kumasi of centenary of King Prempeh's return from 28 yr exile (mainly) in the Seychelles and the endurance of the Asante kingdom...with the President of Seychelles.
100 years ago this week King Prempeh returned home to Asante from Seychelles after 28 yrs exile. The British sent +70 Asante political prisoners to the distant islands in Indian Ocean. Prempeh's return celebrated in Kumasi & star guests include Seychellois Prempeh descendants.
November 22, 2024 at 4:27 PM
100 years ago this week King Prempeh returned home to Asante from Seychelles after 28 yrs exile. The British sent +70 Asante political prisoners to the distant islands in Indian Ocean. Prempeh's return celebrated in Kumasi & star guests include Seychellois Prempeh descendants.
The famous French dealer Charles Ratton bought it...but was convinced by Bill Fagg to sell it 'sans profit' to the Asantehene. Today it is back in Kumasi, and used by a royal gun bearer, as originally intended all those years ago.
November 20, 2024 at 9:33 PM
The famous French dealer Charles Ratton bought it...but was convinced by Bill Fagg to sell it 'sans profit' to the Asantehene. Today it is back in Kumasi, and used by a royal gun bearer, as originally intended all those years ago.
One small story of return. 1974 Christie's auctioned this Asante hat decorated with gold leaf. 'The Property of a Lady...Taken by Lt Cowan...from the dressingroom of Asantehene Kofi Karikari, 1874'
November 20, 2024 at 9:33 PM
One small story of return. 1974 Christie's auctioned this Asante hat decorated with gold leaf. 'The Property of a Lady...Taken by Lt Cowan...from the dressingroom of Asantehene Kofi Karikari, 1874'
I'm back in Kumasi Ghana..another chance to see the amazing Asante treasures loaned back by the British Museum and V&A (looted by the British army 1874 & 1896)
November 20, 2024 at 8:33 PM
I'm back in Kumasi Ghana..another chance to see the amazing Asante treasures loaned back by the British Museum and V&A (looted by the British army 1874 & 1896)
Some photos I took exactly 30 years ago - Oct 94- in #Mozambique 1st multi-party elections and a time of hope in southern Africa. Sad to see the news from Moz this week.
October 22, 2024 at 12:00 PM
Some photos I took exactly 30 years ago - Oct 94- in #Mozambique 1st multi-party elections and a time of hope in southern Africa. Sad to see the news from Moz this week.