Looting Of African Artifacts: An Art-rage!

Kenya Thu 08-02-2007

Looting Of African Artifacts: An Art-rage!
By Lester Holloway

"Our names & genealogy were taken away by slavery, but the scramble for art has also removed important pieces of Africa’s historical jigsaw."

It’s exactly a decade since the legendary late MP Bernie Grant challenged the British Museum over its looted artefacts, and demanded their return. His efforts were rebuffed by an arts establishment playing “finders keepers”.

Now 10 years later, Grants’ campaign looks set to be revived as more experts call for restitution.

So the very institutions that have adopted a leading role marking the bicentenary of slavery abolition will themselves face questions about their own closet. Museums are already fighting back; desperate to keep the floodgates closed and hang onto hundreds of ill-gotten and priceless artifacts.

Looting was legal at the time, insists the British Museum, and therefore not covered by a United Nations Agreement reached in 1970.

“Bring them all back and make the story here where they belong”, a Nairobi man wrote in the visitor’s book after seeing the Hazina (treasures) exhibition at the old Provincial Commissioner’s house.

Posted By: African Colours

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