Restitution of looted African art: progress and obstacles
The return of artworks looted during the colonial period is on the rise, highlighted by the Benin Bronzes being sent back to Nigeria's Edo Museum. In 2014, Mark Walker returned two sculptures that had been taken by his grandfather. Additionally, pieces were returned by the University of Aberdeen and Jesus College, Cambridge. Germany has urged its museums to compile lists for the restitution of Benin Bronzes. The 2020 Black Lives Matter movement sparked further discussions, prompting Germany to acknowledge the Herero and Nama genocide and provide €1.1 billion in support. France's 2017 Sarr-Savoy report advocated for unconditional restitution, though it is being handled on a case-by-case basis. Activist Mwazulu Diyabanza has staged protests at museums and is currently facing trial in Paris. Meanwhile, Belgium's Africa Museum has reinterpreted its exhibits, and the Netherlands has suggested the formation of independent committees. The British Museum continues to deny requests for the repatriation of the Parthenon Marbles, while other claims include Spain's Quimbaya treasure and artifacts from Turkey.
Key facts
- Benin Bronzes looted by British in 1897 are slowly being returned to Nigeria's new Edo Museum.
- Mark Walker returned two sculptures in 2014; University of Aberdeen and Jesus College also returned pieces.
- Germany recognized the Herero and Nama genocide in May 2021 and pledged €1.1 billion.
- France's Sarr-Savoy report (2017) recommended unconditional restitution; France proceeds case-by-case.
- France passed an ad hoc law in 2020 to return 27 artifacts to Benin and Senegal.
- Mwazulu Diyabanza staged protests at museums including the Musée du Quai Branly and faces trial in Paris.
- Belgium's Africa Museum reinterpreted its collection; a joint commission inventoried 84,000 objects.
- Congo gains legal ownership of illegally acquired works and may leave them in Belgium.
- Netherlands' Pressing Matter project catalogs objects over four years.
- British Museum refuses repatriation of Parthenon Marbles and Hoa Hakananai'a.
- Italy returned the Axum stele to Ethiopia in 2008 and Venus of Cyrene to Libya in 2008.
- Turkey demands return of artifacts like the Weary Heracles and a sphinx from the Pergamon Museum.
- Diyabanza created the Multicultural Front Against Looting.
- 85-90% of sub-Saharan African heritage is outside the continent.
- France holds about 88,000 African works, mostly at the Musée du Quai Branly.
Entities
Artists
- Mwazulu Diyabanza
- Chéri Samba
- Freddy Tsimba
- Alice Procter
- Felwine Sarr
- Bénédicte Savoy
- Beatrice Nicolini
- Neil MacGregor
- Guido Gryseels
- Thomas Dermine
- Saskia Cousin
- Susan Legêne
- Tarita Alarcón Rapu
- Evelina Christillin
- Christian Greco
- Michael Steinhardt
- Carlos Holguín
- María Cristina
- Hermann Göring
- Italo Balbo
- Hailé Selassié
- Ludwig Borchardt
- Monika Grütters
- Jürgen Zimmerer
- Götz Aly
- Dan Hicks
- Mark Walker
- Emmanuel Macron
- Édouard Philippe
- Roselyne Bachelot
- Félix Tshisekedi
- Filippo del Belgio
- Leopoldo II
- Giorgio III
- Hans Sloane
- George Floyd
- Hendrik Witbooi
- El Hadj Omar Saidou Tall
- Selim II
- Erdogan
Institutions
- British Museum
- Humboldt Forum
- Africa Museum (Tervuren)
- Musée du Quai Branly
- Musée des Arts africains, océaniens et amérindiens (Marsiglia)
- Museo Afrika (Berg en Dal)
- Louvre
- Mas (Anversa)
- Pitt Rivers Museum
- Rijksmuseum
- Museo Nazionale delle Culture del Mondo
- Pergamon Museum
- Metropolitan Museum
- Getty Museum
- Bayly Art Museum
- Museo di Minneapolis
- Boston Museum of Fine Arts
- Museo Egizio di Torino
- Museo delle Civiltà (Turchia)
- Museo nazionale (Kinshasa)
- University of Oxford
- Vrije Universiteit
- Université de Nanterre
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano
- University of Aberdeen
- Jesus College (Cambridge)
- Unité Dignité Courage
- ReTours
- Pressing Matter
- Uncomfortable Art Tours
- Italia Nostra
- FAO
- Camera (USA)
- Senato francese
- Governo federale tedesco
- Consiglio della Cultura (Olanda)
- Commissione mista belga-congolese
- Fronte multiculturale contro il saccheggio
- Artribune
Locations
- Benin City
- Nigeria
- Regno Edo
- Sud della Nigeria
- Regno del Benin
- Regno del Congo
- Congo
- Repubblica Democratica del Congo
- Belgio
- Bruxelles
- Tervuren
- Fiammingo
- Francia
- Parigi
- Ouagadougou
- Burkina Faso
- Mali
- Senegal
- Etiopia
- Camerun
- Algeria
- Namibia
- Cape Cross
- Australia
- Hawaii
- Egitto
- Berlino
- Amburgo
- Papua-Nuova Guinea
- Olanda
- Berg en Dal
- Marsiglia
- Anversa
- Scozia
- Cambridge
- Londra
- New York
- Oregon
- California
- Stati Uniti
- Nuova Zelanda
- Isola di Pasqua
- Grecia
- Acropoli
- Turchia
- Cile
- Iraq
- Cina
- Italia
- Roma
- Torino
- Torre Annunziata
- Sicilia
- Catania
- Enna
- Zurigo
- Albania
- Butrinto
- Libia
- Leptis Magna
- Axum
- Cirene
- Morgantina
- Stabiae
- Minneapolis
- Spagna
- Colombia
- Bogotá
- Angola
- Portogallo
- Austria
- Messico
- Germania
- Regno Unito
- Inghilterra
- Impero Ottomano
- Zaire
- Ciad
- Indonesia
- Americhe
- Africa
- Asia
- Europa
- Nord America
- Africa subsahariana
- Africa occidentale