Benin History & Research Centre in Diaspora

It has come to our attention that individuals who are not of Benin heritage are currently laying claims on the Queen Idia Mask, also known as the Festac Mask in Nigeria, along with other significant cultural materials from our heritage. There are various types of Benin cultural objects circulating on the internet today. We strongly urge those without direct ancestral ties to the Benin Kingdom to refrain from making claims to our historical and cultural artifacts. It is an affront to our culture and our ancestors for outsiders to distort the rich history of our artifacts that embody the spirituality of the Benin people and their ancestors. 

  It has come to our attention that individuals who are not of Benin heritage are currently laying claims on the Queen Idia Mask, also known as the Festac Mask in Nigeria, along with other significant cultural materials from our heritage. There are various types of Benin cultural objects circulating on the internet today. We strongly urge those without direct ancestral ties to the Benin Kingdom to refrain from making claims to our historical and cultural artifacts. It is an affront to our culture and our ancestors for outsiders to distort the rich history of our artifacts that embody the spirituality of the Benin people and their ancestors. 

We are thrilled to announce our forthcoming 3-day Art Exhibition in Toronto, scheduled for April 9-11 at the Keele Community Hub. We are particularly excited to welcome one of our distinguished guests, Iryn Omorogiuwa, the Permanent Secretary of Edo State Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, who has traveled from Nigeria to join us for this event. Stay tuned for further updates! ~~~Nekpen Obasogie

Today, April 5th, 2026, I attended the Easter parade in downtown Toronto alongside Mayor Olivia Chow. I was accompanied by Iryn Omorogiuwa, the Permanent Secretary of the Edo State Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy. It was an excellent day spent with the Mayor's team at the parade!

We had the privilege of meeting the Member of Provincial Parliament, Mohamed Firin, in York South-Weston, Toronto. This visit stemmed from our commitment to supporting vulnerable community members across the City of Toronto, particularly in addressing the challenges related to access to affordable housing. Advocating for these community members at the governmental level is important, especially through the lens of female leadership. Although there have been significant strides in the representation of women in politics over the past few decades, they continue to be underrepresented in leadership roles globally. In celebration of this year's International Women's Day, we encourage more women to participate in politics and civic engagement across Canada, urging their active involvement at all levels of government. - By Nekpen Obasogie

  On February 4th, 2026, I had the privilege of joining Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, along with notable political leaders and members of the Black community in Ottawa, to celebrate Black History Month. This year's theme is “30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations - From Nation Builders to Tomorrow's Visionaries." It focuses on recognizing the contributions, leadership, and resilience of Black Canadians, while reflecting upon their past, present, and future. Among the esteemed guests were Hon. Jean Augustine, the first Black female Member of Parliament in Canada and a pivotal figure in establishing Black History Month in the country; Hon. Ahmed Hussen; Hon. Shafqat Ali; Hon. Marjorie Michel, Member of Parliament and Minister of Health of Canada; Greg Fergus, the first Black Speaker of the House of Commons; and many others. Click on the link below to watch the Prime Minister's speech on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch...