Returning Stolen Treasures to Africa
The British Museum did not agree to return Hoa Hakananai’a to the Rapa Nui people. The French government, however, decided to return Benin artworks to their home country. Here’s a news report.
Benin artworks:
France to return thrones and statues
French President Emmanuel Macron has said that France will return 26 artworks taken from the West African state of Benin in the colonial period. Benin asked for their return some years ago.
Macron’s announcement follows a report by experts, who were asked by the president to study the issue of African artworks in French museums.
During colonial rule in Africa, thousands of cultural artifacts were taken by Western countries. Most of the African artifacts in the Quai Branly Museum—approximately 46,000 pieces—were acquired with some degree of force.
Twenty-six thrones and statues were taken in 1892 during a colonial war against Dahomey, present-day Benin. They are now on display in the Quai Branly Museum in Paris.
The report says that African treasures in French museums must be returned.
President Macron said the statues would be returned as soon as possible. His office said the return of art to Benin should not be the only case.
The president “hopes that these works will be made available to as many people as possible through exhibitions, loans, and other means of cooperation,” the Élysée Palace said.
The director of a Benin cultural center told the press he was pleased to see “a new form of cultural exchange” with France.
France’s announcement comes as major museums across Europe have agreed to send key artifacts back to Nigeria.
The British Museum did not agree to return Hoa Hakananai’a to the Rapa Nui people. The French government, however, decided to return Benin artworks to their home country. Here’s a news report.
Benin artworks:
France to return thrones and statues
French President Emmanuel Macron has said that France will return 26 artworks taken from the West African state of Benin in the colonial period. Benin asked for their return some years ago.
Macron’s announcement follows a report by experts, who were asked by the president to study the issue of African artworks in French museums.
During colonial rule in Africa, thousands of cultural artifacts were taken by Western countries. Most of the African artifacts in the Quai Branly Museum—approximately 46,000 pieces—were acquired with some degree of force.
Twenty-six thrones and statues were taken in 1892 during a colonial war against Dahomey, present-day Benin. They are now on display in the Quai Branly Museum in Paris.
The report says that African treasures in French museums must be returned.
President Macron said the statues would be returned as soon as possible. His office said the return of art to Benin should not be the only case.
The president “hopes that these works will be made available to as many people as possible through exhibitions, loans, and other means of cooperation,” the Élysée Palace said.
The director of a Benin cultural center told the press he was pleased to see “a new form of cultural exchange” with France.
France’s announcement comes as major museums across Europe have agreed to send key artifacts back to Nigeria.