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Seven Plundered Royal Relics Returned by US Museum to Ghana's Asante Kingdom
Seven Plundered Royal Relics Returned by US Museum to Ghana's Asante Kingdom
Sputnik Africa
The Sagrenti War of 1874, led by British Sir Garnet Wolseley to attain the highest rank in the British army, resulted in the complete destruction of the... 10.02.2024, Sputnik Africa
2024-02-10T15:22+0100
2024-02-10T15:22+0100
2024-02-10T15:22+0100
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Seven royal relics plundered 150 years ago by British colonial forces from Ghana’s Asante kingdom are now returned home, the kingdom said on Thursday.The items were kept in the US Fowler Museum since the 1960s and included an elephant tail whisk, an ornamental chair made of wood, leather, and iron, two gold stool ornaments, a gold necklace, and two bracelets.All seven objects were returned unconditionally and permanently, however the kingdom allowed their replicas to be made.The return of valuable items is a sign that African nations' efforts to repatriate stolen antiquities are having an impact, despite decades of resistance from Western and European governments and museums. However, activists reportedly claim that thousands more remain unattainable.More and more museums are agreeing to give back African artifacts stolen during colonial times, but not all of them are ready to say goodbye to cultural objects forever.In January, two London museums said they will lend a priceless collection of looted gold and silver regalia associated with the Asante royal court to Ghana under a three-year loan deal and will be displayed this year in Kumasi, the main city of Ghana's Ashanti Region.
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ghana, united kingdom (uk), united states (us), west africa, international, museums, colonialism, british colonialism, artifact, culture
Seven Plundered Royal Relics Returned by US Museum to Ghana's Asante Kingdom
The Sagrenti War of 1874, led by British Sir Garnet Wolseley to attain the highest rank in the British army, resulted in the complete destruction of the Ghanaian city of Kumasi and the looting of valuable artifacts and gold dust from the King's Palace, which was then set on fire, according to Asante kingdom's website.
Seven royal relics plundered 150 years ago by British colonial forces from
Ghana’s Asante kingdom are now returned home, the kingdom
said on Thursday.
"We are here [...] [because] the white man came into Asanteman to loot and destroy it," Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the ruler of the Asante kingdom, reportedly stated during a presenting ceremony.
The items were kept in the US Fowler Museum since the 1960s and included an elephant tail whisk, an ornamental chair made of wood, leather, and iron, two gold stool ornaments, a gold necklace, and two bracelets.
"It is with great emotion that I stand here today to present to Your Majesty seven historical art works, some of which were looted from the Palace in 1876 and others that were part of the indemnity the Asantes were forced to pay to the British at the end of the Sagrenti War," the Director of the Museum, Silvia Forni, said.
All seven objects were returned unconditionally and permanently, however the kingdom allowed their replicas to be made.
The return of valuable items is a sign that African nations' efforts to
repatriate stolen antiquities are having an impact, despite decades of resistance from Western and European governments and museums. However, activists reportedly claim that thousands more remain unattainable.
More and more museums are agreeing to give back African artifacts stolen during colonial times, but not all of them are ready to say goodbye to cultural objects forever.
In January, two London museums said they will
lend a priceless collection of looted gold and silver regalia associated with the Asante royal court to Ghana under a three-year loan deal and will be displayed this year in Kumasi, the main city of Ghana's Ashanti Region.
