Some of Ghana's “crown jewels” looted from King Asante's court 150 years ago are being returned by the United Kingdom. In an unprecedented move, a selection of 32 items are being repatriated under long-term loan agreements. Among the pieces recovered are a golden peace pipe and other important cultural artifacts.
Returning fragments
The Victoria & Albert (V&A) and the British Museum each offer 17 and 15 pieces respectively. Items taken during the wars between the British and the Asante in the 19th century include a royal sword and gold medallions worn by the king's soul-purging officers.
V&A director Tristram Hunt said the items from the Golden Court regalia were equivalent to “our crown jewels”. However, he emphasized that the new cultural partnership is not a “return through the back door”, i.e. a return of permanent ownership to Ghana.
Terms of contract
The loan agreements, which are valid for three years and may be extended for another three, are not with the Ghanaian government, but with the current Asante king, Otumfo Osei Tutu II. In celebration of Asantehene's silver jubilee, the artifacts will be displayed at the Manhia Palace Museum in Kumasi, the capital of the Asante region.
This type of agreement is seen as a way of allowing objects to be returned to their home countries, bypassing UK legal restrictions that prohibit national museums from permanently returning contested objects from their collections.
Importance of Artifacts to Ghana
Nana Oboriata Ayme, Special Adviser to Ghana's Minister of Culture, highlighted the importance of these objects to Ghanaians: “They are not just objects but have spiritual significance. They are parts of us that are coming back.” She sees the debt as a good starting point and a sign of healing from the violent past.
These artefacts are symbols of Asante royal rule and are believed to contain the spirits of ancient Asante kings compared to the Benin Bronzes – thousands of sculptures and plaques looted by the United Kingdom from the palaces of the present-day Southern Benin Kingdom. Nigeria..
Many objects taken from Ghana are still in the British Museum, including a gold cup head, one of the most famous pieces of Asante regalia.
A step towards reconciliation
As Britain increasingly seeks to confront the cultural legacy of its colonial past, these types of agreements are a diplomatic and practical way to address the past and build better relations for the future. Special Adviser Nana Oboriata Ayime insists the agreement will allow for a new level of cultural cooperation after generations of resentment.
“Total creator. Devoted tv fanatic. Communicator. Evil pop culture buff. Social media advocate.”
