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
-
NPA pushes back on proposals to scrap Fuel Price Floor Policy
16 minutes -
Policy stability, currency strength and regulatory reforms key to attracting investors – Stanbic Bank
54 minutes -
Stanbic Bank Ghana begins 2026 with thanksgiving service; reaffirms support for Ghana’s economic recovery
1 hour -
Nigerian imam honoured for saving Christian lives dies aged 90
1 hour -
What a seventh term for 81-year-old leader means for Uganda
1 hour -
AFCON: ‘Shameful’ and ‘terrible look’ – the chaos that marred Senegal’s triumph
2 hours -
Rashford scores but Barca lose to 10-man Sociedad
2 hours -
Diaz will ‘have nightmares’ over ‘Panenka’ failure
2 hours -
Tragic death of Chimamanda Adichie’s young son pushes Nigeria to act on health sector failings
2 hours -
‘I want to show the world what Africa is’: YouTube star brings joy and tears on tour
2 hours -
‘An ambassador for African football’ – Mane is Senegal’s Afcon hero
3 hours -
‘Europe won’t be blackmailed,’ Danish PM says in wake of Trump Greenland threats
5 hours -
Three admit £70m tree planting pension fraud in UK
5 hours -
How crypto criminals stole $700m from people – often using age-old tricks
5 hours -
Construction emissions pose rising climate risk, Scientists Say
5 hours