Those Without Direct Ancestral Ties to Benin Kingdom Should Refrain from Making Claims to the Historical Queen Idia Mask

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.