Looted Asante treasures to return to Ghana after 150 years

NAIROBI, Kenya

Stolen treasures from the Asante royal court of Ghana, including gold and silver regalia, are to return to their rightful home in Ghana in a loan deal after 150 years.

The announcement of the cultural repatriation came on Thursday after a collaboration between the Manhyia Palace Museum (a historical museum located in Kumasi in Ghana), the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London, and the British Museum.

A total of 32 items will be loaned to the Manhyia Palace Museum by the two museums on a long-term (three-year) renewable agreement.

The announcement follows the official visit to London last year by the Asantehene (King of the Asante people), Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and months of negotiations led by Ghanaian historian Ivor Agyeman-Duah and British professor Malcolm McLeod.

The artifacts, symbolizing Asante's identity and history, will be displayed at the Manhyia Palace Museum, allowing Ghanaians to reconnect with their cultural heritage.

Tristram Hunt, the director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, expressed pride in the partnership with the Manhyia Palace Museum to display the collection of Asante gold work.

‘Loaning what is rightfully ours?’

On social media, there is a growing wave of discontent as individuals express anger over the decision to send the Asante regalia on loan rather than full repatriation.

Many argue that these cultural treasures rightfully belong to the Ghanaian people.

“Sending our stolen heritage on 'loan' feels like a half-hearted attempt. These artifacts belong to the people of Ghana. It's time for a complete return, not just a temporary display,” Michael Mensah, a student from the University of Ghana told Anadolu.

“Why are we still negotiating 'loans' for artifacts stolen during colonial plunder? They are loaning what is rightfully ours,” he added.

David Mwanzia Kyule, a lecturer at the Department of History and Archaeology, University of Nairobi, emphasized the historical importance of returning stolen artifacts.

He stated: “Historically, these artifacts, even the simplest like masks and carvings, carry immense importance. They are not just objects; they hold sacred narratives, embodying our shared history and cultural identity.”

“It is crucial, not just for the Asante but for all of Africa, to prioritize the repatriation of stolen items, not only from museums but also from private homes and facilities in France, Britain, and other places,” he added.

Most of the treasures looted during the 19th-century (1874) Anglo-Asante wars portray exquisite examples of Asante goldsmithing and carry profound cultural, historical, and spiritual significance for the Asante people.