Continued Retention of African Artifacts Constitutes 'Crime Against Humanity': South African Expert
20:25 16.02.2026 (Updated: 21:00 16.02.2026)
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Continued Retention of African Artifacts Constitutes 'Crime Against Humanity': South African Expert
Cambridge University's February 8 decision to return 116 Benin Bronzes looted from Nigeria in 1897 represents "an opportunity for reconnecting with past trajectories of development that were subverted by colonial intervention," Dr. Rasigan Maharajh told Sputnik Africa.
Key points from the academician:
🟠UK's Double Standard: The UK still blocks return of cultural artifacts due to its laws, Dr. Maharajh noted. he dismissed a UK official’s claim that keeping them in one place is “more beneficial,” calling it rooted in colonial arrogance and ignorance.
🟠Why Retention is a Crime: Failing to return artifacts is a crime against humanity—it blocks post-colonial societies from reclaiming their indigenous knowledge and perpetuates new forms of colonial subjugation.
🟠African Response: Build institutional capacity for knowledge preservation and strengthen ties with UNESCO to "reformulate African historiography." Implementing indigenous knowledge policies across the continent would empower communities to demand redress, according to the expert.
🟠Cost of Loss: Reparations must cover both tangible and intangible losses—without real action, symbolic gestures only worsen conflicts. He urged the “world majority” to back Africa’s claims.
🟠Call for Mental Emancipation: Citing “emancipate ourselves from mental slavery,” he urged moving beyond victimhood to achieve true decolonization and prevent colonial harms from returning.
Cambridge University's February 8 decision to return 116 Benin Bronzes looted from Nigeria in 1897 represents "an opportunity for reconnecting with past trajectories of development that were subverted by colonial intervention," Dr. Rasigan Maharajh told Sputnik Africa.
Key points from the academician:
🟠UK's Double Standard: The UK still blocks return of cultural artifacts due to its laws, Dr. Maharajh noted. he dismissed a UK official’s claim that keeping them in one place is “more beneficial,” calling it rooted in colonial arrogance and ignorance.
🟠Why Retention is a Crime: Failing to return artifacts is a crime against humanity—it blocks post-colonial societies from reclaiming their indigenous knowledge and perpetuates new forms of colonial subjugation.
🟠African Response: Build institutional capacity for knowledge preservation and strengthen ties with UNESCO to "reformulate African historiography." Implementing indigenous knowledge policies across the continent would empower communities to demand redress, according to the expert.
🟠Cost of Loss: Reparations must cover both tangible and intangible losses—without real action, symbolic gestures only worsen conflicts. He urged the “world majority” to back Africa’s claims.
🟠Call for Mental Emancipation: Citing “emancipate ourselves from mental slavery,” he urged moving beyond victimhood to achieve true decolonization and prevent colonial harms from returning.
