Those Benin artefacts are impressive. If I could see them all in a fabulous museum in Africa, that would change my understanding and perceptions of African society. It would contribute to me aspiring to emigrate to live and work in Nigeria, instead of, say, Palo Alto, New York, Boston, or London.

Things are the way they are because possession is 9/10ths of the law, and there is no international police force. The only possibility for change is the court of public opinion in the countries that currently possess the artefacts. That court does change over time, so perhaps there is some hope.

Uh...wouldn’t British people just consider these items expats?

I mean ... it works for them when they are in other countries.

Disclosure: I am British