Relooted: A Video Game That Steals Back African Art
South African studio Nyamakop has developed Relooted, a platform-puzzle video game where players plan and execute non-violent heists to recover looted African artworks from Western museums. The game is set against the backdrop of ongoing restitution debates, notably the June 19 return of 119 Benin Bronzes by the Netherlands to Nigeria. According to The Parliament, over 90% of sub-Saharan Africa's cultural heritage remains outside the continent, with the British Museum alone holding some 69,000 African pieces. All artworks in Relooted are based on real stolen objects, as confirmed by artistic director Ben Myres on the Epic Games Store. The game has no release date yet but will be available for Windows.
Key facts
- Relooted is a platform-puzzle game by South African studio Nyamakop.
- Players plan and execute non-violent heists to return stolen African artworks.
- The game references the restitution debate, which has existed since the 1960s.
- On June 19, the Netherlands returned 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria.
- The British Museum holds approximately 69,000 African artworks.
- Over 90% of sub-Saharan Africa's cultural heritage is outside Africa, per The Parliament.
- All artworks in Relooted are based on real looted pieces, per artistic director Ben Myres.
- Relooted will be available for Windows; no release date announced.
Entities
Artists
- Ben Myres
- Matteo Lupetti
Institutions
- Nyamakop
- British Museum
- Epic Games Store
- Nintendo
- The Parliament
- Artribune
- Scuola Internazionale di Comics di Firenze
- Gravure
- FISAR
Locations
- South Africa
- Netherlands
- Nigeria
- Regno del Benin
- Africa
- sub-Saharan Africa
- Western museums
- Windows