Finnish Minister of Science and Culture Mari-Leena Talvitie officially handed over the Katakle — a ceremonial royal stool from the Kingdom of Dahomey — to Beninese Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Jean-Michel Abimbola on Tuesday, reported Xinhua.
The restitution ceremony took place at the presidential palace in Cotonou, the country's economic capital, where the unveiling of the Katakle was met with applause and admiration from representatives of both countries.
"It (Katakle) may seem small, but it carries a powerful symbolic weight," said Abimbola, adding that Benin is now looking ahead to other restitution initiatives, as well as strengthened cultural, economic, and scientific cooperation with Finland.
For her part, Talvitie emphasized that the return of the Katakle represents a recognition of its historical value for Benin. "This piece takes the relationship between our two countries to a new level," she said.
The Katakle is a three-legged royal stool traditionally used during coronation ceremonies to symbolize power, unity, and stability. It was first looted by French colonizers in 1892 and later collected by the National Museum of Finland in 1939.
In November 2021, at the request of the Beninese government, France returned 26 of the 27 looted artifacts taken during the colonization period.
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
