A ceremonial cap worn by courtiers during coronations is one of the items now exhibited in Kumasi [BBC]. Img source: yahoo.com
May 1, 2024 Story by: Editor
After 150 years, artifacts from the Asante kingdom that were looted by British colonizers are finally on display in Ghana.
Ghanaians eagerly gathered at the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi, the Asante region’s capital, to celebrate the homecoming of 32 items.
“This is a day for Asante. A day for the Black African continent. The spirit we share is back,” declared Asante King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
The artifacts have been loaned to Ghana for an initial period of three years, with the possibility of extending the loan pending approval from the British culture secretary.
The agreement involves two British institutions—the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) and the British Museum—and the Asante king, rather than the Ghanaian government.
The Asante king, or Asantehene, symbolizes traditional authority and is believed to embody the spirits of his predecessors, though his kingdom now exists within modern Ghana’s democracy.
“Our dignity is restored,” Henry Amankwaatia, a retired police commissioner and proud Asante, told the BBC amidst jubilant drumming.
The V&A has loaned 17 pieces, while the British Museum has contributed 15. The return of these artifacts coincides with the silver jubilee celebration of the Asantehene.
Some of the items, often referred to as “Ghana’s crown jewels,” were taken during the Anglo-Ashanti wars of the 19th century, including the renowned Sagrenti War of 1874.
Other items, such as the gold harp (Sankuo), were given to a British diplomat in 1817.
“We acknowledge the very painful history surrounding the acquisition of these objects. A history tainted by the scars of imperial conflict and colonialism,” said Dr. Tristram Hunt, director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, who traveled to Kumasi for the ceremony. Source: BBC
Among the returned artifacts are the sword of state, a gold peace pipe, and gold badges worn by officials responsible for cleansing the king’s soul.
“These treasures have borne witness to triumph and trials of the great kingdom and their return to Kumasi is testament to the power of cultural exchange and reconciliation,” Dr. Hunt remarked.
The sword of state, also known as the “mpompomsuo sword,” is particularly significant to the Asante people. It is used in the swearing-in ceremonies of paramount chiefs and the king himself.
Royal historian Osei-Bonsu Safo-Kantanka told the BBC that the removal of these items from the Asante “took away a portion of our heart, our feeling, our whole being.”
The return of the artifacts is both controversial and significant. Under UK law, national museums like the V&A and the British Museum are prohibited from permanently returning contested items in their collections. Loan agreements like this one are seen as a workaround to enable the return of objects to their countries of origin.
Countries claiming disputed artifacts often worry that loan agreements may imply acceptance of UK ownership.
Many Ghanaians believe the artifacts should remain in Ghana permanently. However, this loan arrangement provides a means to bypass British legal restrictions.
African countries have repeatedly called for the return of looted items, with some achieving success in recent years. In 2022, Germany returned over 1,000 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, with the German foreign minister describing it as a step toward addressing a “dark colonial history.”
