Ghana’s Asante king receives 130 returned artefacts from UK and South Africa

Ghana's Asante king receives 130 returned artefacts from UK and South Africa

Ghana's Asante king, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has welcomed the return of 130 gold and bronze artefacts from the UK and South Africa, some of which were looted during colonial rule while others were acquired legally on the open market. The items, including royal regalia, ceremonial drums, and gold weights dating back to the 1870s, highlight the cultural significance of gold in Asante society.

Sources of the returned artefacts

Twenty-five of the artefacts were donated by British art historian Hermione Waterfield, a former curator at Christie's auction house in London. Waterfield, known for her advocacy of West African art restitution, established a tribal art department at Christie's in the 1970s. The remaining 105 pieces were returned by South African mining company AngloGold Ashanti, which framed the gesture as an act of cultural respect and reconciliation.

The handover ceremony took place on Sunday at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti region. Among Waterfield's contributions was a wooden drum looted during the 1900 British siege of Kumasi, a conflict tied to the broader Anglo-Asante wars of the late 19th century, during which the Asantehene's palace was plundered twice.

Statements from the Asante king and AngloGold Ashanti

King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II expressed gratitude to AngloGold Ashanti for the voluntary return of artefacts acquired through legal means, calling it a demonstration of "goodwill and respect for the source and legacy of the Asante kingdom." The company's move comes amid ongoing tensions in the Ashanti region, where local residents have accused AngloGold Ashanti of exploiting mineral resources without sufficient investment in local development or job creation.

"Supplies have stabilized, but conservation remains essential."

Manhyia Palace Museum director Ivor Agyeman-Duah, on the historical significance of the returned items

Broader context of African artefact restitution

The return of these artefacts aligns with a growing trend of African nations securing the repatriation of looted cultural items. In 2023, 32 looted artefacts were displayed at the Manhyia Palace Museum under a three-year loan agreement between Ghana and two British institutions-the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) and the British Museum. Meanwhile, in 2022, Germany became the first country to return Benin bronzes to Nigeria, acknowledging its "dark colonial history." These bronzes, looted by British troops in 1897 from the Kingdom of Benin (now Edo State, Nigeria), had been widely dispersed through auctions and private collections.

Next steps

The returned artefacts will be housed at the Manhyia Palace Museum, where they will join other repatriated items on display. The Asante kingdom continues to advocate for the return of additional cultural treasures held in foreign collections.