Ghana’s Asante king has received the return of 130 gold and bronze artefacts from the UK and South Africa. These items, which were part of colonial-era collections, include royal regalia, drums, and ceremonial gold weights that date back to the 1870s. They reflect the cultural significance of gold in Asante society. Of the artefacts, 25 were donated by British art historian Hermione Waterfield, with the remainder provided by the South African mining company AngloGold Ashanti.
During a ceremony held at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, representatives from AngloGold Ashanti stated that the return of these artefacts was intended as an act of cultural respect and reconciliation. This gesture comes amidst ongoing tensions between the mining company and local residents, who have criticized AngloGold Ashanti for not contributing sufficiently to local development and job creation.
Asante King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II expressed gratitude to AngloGold Ashanti for returning artefacts that were legally acquired on the open market. He acknowledged this act as a demonstration of goodwill towards the legacy of the Asante kingdom.
The event took place on Sunday, as noted in a palace statement. Hermione Waterfield, known for her dedication to African art, was a key figure in establishing a department for tribal art at Christie’s auction house in London during the 1970s. One of the artefacts she donated included a wooden drum that was taken during the 1900 siege of Kumasi, part of a series of conflicts known as the Anglo-Asante wars.
In recent years, there has been a growing movement for the return of looted artefacts from various Western institutions. Examples include the temporary display of 32 looted items at the Manhyia Palace Museum through a loan agreement with British museums. Additionally, Germany took a significant step by returning Benin bronzes to Nigeria in 2022, addressing its colonial history.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjr0g78y0zro?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss