Chilean Filmmakers Launch Campaign to Repatriate Moai from British Museum

A group of Chilean filmmakers has launched a campaign urging the Chilean government to request the repatriation of a Moai statue from the British Museum in London. The statue, known as Hoa Hakananai'a, was taken by the crew of the British ship HMS Topaze in November 1868 and arrived in England in 1869. Dating to around 1200 AD, the basalt figure stands 2.5 meters tall and weighs approximately 4 tons. It is among the most famous of the roughly 4,000 Easter Island artifacts held in collections worldwide. The filmmakers are working on a documentary titled 'Te Kuhane o the Tupuna: El espíritu de los ancestros,' which highlights the cultural and spiritual significance of the Moai as protectors against evil spirits. The campaign adds to ongoing restitution debates, notably Greece's long-standing demand for the return of the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum.