Returned Objects Must Be 'Reconnected to Communities': Cameroonian Expert on Repatriating Africa's Artifacts
Returned Objects Must Be 'Reconnected to Communities': Cameroonian Expert on Repatriating Africa's Artifacts
The removal of these objects was "a great injustice," as they are not merely tangible but carry embedded intangible elements, Etta Ojang Ivan, acting director of the Cameroon National Museum, told Sputnik Africa on the sidelines of the 12th International Forum of United Cultures.
"The main idea about Europeans taking away most of the precious objects today was to create that disunity, that dysfunction."
African Standards of Preservation
Although European museums often argue that African institutions lack the necessary infrastructure, most objects were preserved in Africa through "indigenous methods of preservation" before being collected and taken to Europe, the expert argued.
"Even though they are not European standards, they are African standards that can also be valued."
Watch the video to learn how Russian expertise could help African museums preserve their heritage.
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