In Ghana, 32 sacred Ashanti objects looted by British settlers in 1874 have been “temporarily” returned by museums in the United Kingdom. Presented at the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi (255 km northwest) of the capital Accra, they arouse emotions and nourish hopes for broader and lasting restitutions, reports Radio France Internationale (Rfi).
Among these artifacts loaned for a renewable period of three years are the sword of the Ashanti kingdom and gold insignia used to purify the soul of the king. For Ashanti King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who initiated this return, “these objects looted in 1874 carry the spirit of the Ashanti people” and represent “a day for black Africa”, cited by the same Source.
The directors of British museums have recognized their responsibility towards dispossessed populations. This constitutes an “essential first step”, according to UNESCO, aimed at safeguarding the identity of peoples and promoting solidarity.
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