UK to give back Ghana’s STOLEN Asante Gold ‘crown jewels’….on Loan!

The United Kingdom is taking significant steps to rectify historical wrongs by returning cultural artefacts, often referred to as “crown jewels,” to Ghana, ending a 150-year-old chapter of looting and stealing from the Asante king’s court.

Among the 32 items to be repatriated is a gold peace pipe, marking a momentous gesture of cultural reconciliation. The Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) will lend 17 pieces, with the British Museum contributing 15 items.

The return of these artefacts is made possible through long-term loan agreements, as some national museums in the UK are legally prohibited from permanently returning contested items. These loans provide a framework for the objects to be temporarily returned to their countries of origin.

Tristram Hunt, Director of the V&A, likened the importance of these gold items to the UK’s Crown Jewels, highlighting their significance in Asante culture. Most of these items were taken during 19th-century conflicts between the British and the Asante.

These artifacts include a sword of state and gold badges worn by officials tasked with cleansing the king’s soul. The return of these items symbolises a crucial step towards acknowledging the cultural heritage and historical significance that they hold for the people of Ghana.

The three-year loan agreements, with an option to extend for another three years, are made not with the Ghanaian government but with Otumfo Osei Tutu II, the current Asante king known as the Asantehene. The items will be displayed at the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi, the capital of the Asante region, to commemorate the Asantehene’s silver jubilee.

These Asante gold artefacts carry profound spiritual and cultural importance for Ghana, much like the Benin Bronzes, thousands of sculptures and plaques looted by Britain from the Kingdom of Benin in modern-day Nigeria. Nigeria has long sought the return of these artefacts.

The return of these artifacts signifies a significant milestone in the effort to address historical injustices and heal the wounds caused by colonial-era looting. It marks a positive step towards cultural cooperation and understanding, recognising the deep spiritual and cultural significance that these objects hold for Ghana.

While these artefacts will be on loan, the move fosters a sense of unity and respect for Ghana’s cultural heritage and history, paving the way for further discussions on the return of contested cultural treasures worldwide.

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Source: BBC News