UK Museums Return Looted Asante Artifacts to Ghana After 150 Years

Two British museums have announced a long-term loan arrangement to return gold and silver artifacts to Ghana. The items were taken from the Asante people during Britain’s colonial battles in West Africa 150 years ago. The British Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, along with the Manhyia Palace Museum in Ghana, have collaborated on this important cultural initiative. The loan arrangement allows for the return of 17 items, including 13 pieces of Asante royal regalia purchased by the V&A in 1874. These artifacts were looted by British troops during the Anglo-Asante wars of the 19th century. Despite the significance of this collaboration, there are still concerns about the British laws that prevent the return of cultural treasures to their countries of origin. Ghana hopes this loan is just a starting point and that the regalia will ultimately be returned to its rightful owners. The British Museum alone holds 239 artifacts of Asante regalia in its collection. This loan agreement represents only a fraction of the Asante artifacts held by British museums and private collectors worldwide.