https://en.sputniknews.africa/20241224/africas-struggle-to-repatriate-looted-cultural-heritage-ugandas-perspective-on-repatriation-1069866071.html
Africa's Struggle to Repatriate Looted Cultural Heritage: Uganda's Perspective on Repatriation
Africa's Struggle to Repatriate Looted Cultural Heritage: Uganda's Perspective on Repatriation
Sputnik Africa
The recent successful intervention by Benin to prevent the auction of King Behanzin’s royal symbols in Paris has brought renewed focus on the repatriation of... 24.12.2024, Sputnik Africa
2024-12-24T12:07+0100
2024-12-24T12:07+0100
2024-12-24T13:05+0100
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Jackline Nyiracyiza Besigye, Principal Conservator at Uganda’s National Museum, shared her insights with Sputnik Africa, offering a Ugandan perspective on the complex issue of restoring looted African cultural heritage. She argued that the loss represents not only a theft of tangible objects but also a disruption of cultural and spiritual connections.She argued that these actions were not simply acts of economic exploitation but deliberate attempts to undermine African culture and spiritual power.Besigye highlighted the communication barriers that existed during the colonial era. According to her, this casts doubt on the legitimacy of many acquisitions by colonial powers, suggesting that many objects were taken without the informed consent of their rightful owners.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20241223/can-thief-tell-you-what-to-do-african-expert-on-restitution-of-looted-african-artifacts-1069855732.html
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Muhammad Nooh Osman
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africa, uganda, benin, east africa, colonialism, british colonialism, museums, artifact, africa insight
africa, uganda, benin, east africa, colonialism, british colonialism, museums, artifact, africa insight
Africa's Struggle to Repatriate Looted Cultural Heritage: Uganda's Perspective on Repatriation
12:07 24.12.2024 (Updated: 13:05 24.12.2024) Muhammad Nooh Osman
Writer/Editor
The recent successful intervention by Benin to prevent the auction of King Behanzin’s royal symbols in Paris has brought renewed focus on the repatriation of Africa’s looted cultural heritage during the colonial era.
Jackline Nyiracyiza Besigye, Principal Conservator at Uganda’s National Museum, shared her insights with
Sputnik Africa, offering a Ugandan perspective on the complex issue of restoring
looted African cultural heritage. She argued that the loss represents not only a theft of tangible objects but also a disruption of cultural and spiritual connections.
"During that time, that's where we have most of the cultural heritage; I would say both cultural and partly maybe the geological samples, all the minerals and natural [resources] are being taken," Besigye told Sputnik Africa.
She argued that these actions were not simply acts of economic
exploitation but deliberate attempts to undermine African culture and spiritual power.
"I wouldn’t say that they were taken for business," Besigye stated. "No, they were taken probably to devalue the heritage of these countries and, in particular, Uganda, to devalue, I mean, to weaken the African culture heritage, or maybe the spiritual powers that these heritage objects or artifacts had at that time."
Besigye highlighted the communication barriers that existed during the colonial era. According to her, this casts doubt on the legitimacy of many acquisitions by colonial powers, suggesting that many objects were taken without the informed consent of their rightful owners.
