The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts of Benin and the National Museum of Finland announced on Wednesday, May 7, the forthcoming restitution of the Kataklè, a royal stool emblematic of the Dahomey Kingdom.
The object—symbolizing power, unity, and stability—will be officially handed over to Beninese authorities on May 13 during a ceremony scheduled in Cotonou, according to a joint statement. The Kataklè, a three-legged stool traditionally used during official ceremonies, dates back to the 17th century, the period during which the Dahomey Kingdom was founded in what is now modern-day Benin. It was transferred to Europe during the colonial era, becoming part of the collection of the Musée d’Ethnographie du Trocadéro in Paris before being sent to the National Museum of Finland in 1939.
It is the final piece of a group of 27 major works looted during the colonial period. In 2021, France had already returned 26 of them to Benin.
For Beninese authorities, this latest restitution represents another step in the recovery of the country’s cultural heritage. It also reflects a mutual desire by Beninese and Finnish institutions to deepen cultural cooperation based on dialogue and mutual respect.
