Audio By Carbonatix
France has formally handed back 26 artefacts that it looted from what is now Benin in 1892, when it was governed under the French empire.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed his Beninese counterpart, Patrice Talon, to Paris to formally sign over the artefacts.
President Talon said he felt "overwhelming emotion" at the return of the items, describing them as the "soul" of his country, according to the AFP news agency.
Meanwhile, President Macron said the move represented "a symbolic, moving and historic moment", according to the same agency.
The artefacts include a royal throne, statues, palace doors, dance staffs and altars according to French news site France24.
They will be shipped back to Benin in the coming days, it adds.
The return of the objects is seen as a wider move on the part of France to build a new relationship with Africa.
Last year French MPs voted overwhelmingly to return looted African artefacts to both Senegal and Benin.
Latest Stories
-
Politician Attorney General model is broken and no longer credible – Constitution Review Chair
1 hour -
Indonesians raise white flags as anger grows over slow flood aid
2 hours -
Why passport stamps may be a thing of the past
2 hours -
Pope Leo urges ‘courage’ to end Ukraine war in first Christmas address
2 hours -
Commentary on Noah Adamtey v Attorney General: A constitutional challenge to Office of Special Prosecutor
2 hours -
Ghana’s democratic debate is too insular and afraid of change – Constitution Review Chair
2 hours -
24/7 campaigning is a choice, not democracy – Constitution Review Chair
3 hours -
4 years is too short as Ghana lags behind global democratic standards – Constitution Review Chair
3 hours -
GOLDBOD CEO explains ‘Clear Typo’ in Foreign Reserves claim
5 hours -
Trump says US military struck ISIS terrorists in Nigeria
6 hours -
Newcastle stadium plans in limbo – Howe
8 hours -
Civil society group calls on BoG to suspend planned normalisation of non-interest banking
8 hours -
King Charles’ Christmas message urges unity in divided world
8 hours -
Jingle bills: Arkansas Powerball player strikes $1.8bn jackpot on Christmas Eve
8 hours -
Brazil ex-President Jair Bolsonaro’s surgery for hernia ‘successful’
8 hours