Germany first to hand back Benin bronzes looted by British

Culture minister says country is facing up to historic and moral responsibility' by returning artefacts to Nigeria

Germany is to become the first country to hand back the Benin bronzes looted by British soldiers in the late nineteenth century, after the culture minister, Monika Grutters, announced it would start returning a substantial" part of the artefacts held in its museums to Nigeria from next year.

We face up to our historic and moral responsibility to shine a light and work on Germany's historic past," Grutters said after museum experts and political leaders struck an agreement at a summit on Thursday.