Museums under pressure from young Africans to return looted art

A new wave of young Africans is intensifying calls for Western museums to return looted artefacts, according to a top UN official.

Ernesto Ottone, UNESCO’s deputy director general, emphasized the growing “awareness” among the youth during a recent interview in Addis Ababa.

“For the past five or six years, we’ve witnessed pressure in the streets and a shift in museum-goers’ perspectives,” Ottone shared.

He spoke during a UNESCO conference aimed at addressing the repatriation of statues, paintings, and artefacts looted during colonial times.

While some European nations have started returning items, Ottone noted the process remains “complex,” often hindered by domestic legislation.

France, for instance, stores around 90,000 artefacts from sub-Saharan Africa, according to a 2018 report.

In 2021, France returned 26 stolen items to Benin following President Emmanuel Macron’s 2017 pledge to restore African heritage.

However, this momentum has slowed, with recent actions limited to loans, such as the Djidji Ayokwe drum to Ivory Coast.

Similarly, Britain faces mounting pressure to return cultural treasures, including the Benin Bronzes and Parthenon Marbles.

A 1963 UK law prevents the British Museum from permanently giving back items, sparking fears of empty museums if restitutions accelerate.

Efforts to address this issue involve not only governments but also universities and museums leading independent initiatives, Ottone added.

The conversation on restitution marks a pivotal moment, with young Africans challenging historical narratives and demanding justice for their cultural heritage.

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