"It's a real connection with the past. It is a spiritual object."

The looted Benin Bronze statue of a cockerel (rooster) is heading back home after over a century.

In Jamaica we have a similar piece of our history that was stolen from a cave in the Canoe Valley, South Manchester. Like the stolen rooster, its a real connection with the past.

The Bird Man idol was stolen from the 'Image Cave', South Manchester, in 1792 and sent to the British Museum. Symbolism played an important part in the lives of the Tainos. The 2nd largest settlement in Jamaica was in the Canoe Valley.

It is said that a REPLICA of the zemi or idol has been returned to Jamaica, but that the original is still at the British Museum. Question: Why couldn't we demand like Nigeria has done, that the original idol be returned to Jamaica?

The Bird Man to my mind has a strange resemblance to the image of the Ankh.