The complex legacy of the colonial era in Africa (1885-1960) continues to have implications for the contemporary world. This period featured direct control of large swaths of African territory by the British, French, Belgians, and Italians as well as white settlers. Many African nations bear the vestiges of the colonial era social, political and economic institutions and mores. Its impact shapes the continent as much as it does the realities of the colonizing powers. One of the most obvious examples is the possession of thousands of pieces of African artwork and artifacts by European nations, former colonial powers. The struggle by African countries to retrieve this artwork from the West and the negotiations between the two make this process a complicated dance.
According to UNESCO, most of the African art and artifacts reside outside of the African continent. Estimates are as high as 90 to 95% of the artwork is in various museums in Europe. Artwork and artifacts were taken from many African countries during the colonial period. The most visible have been Ethiopia, Benin and the Congo are important case studies.
NOTE--This informational blog is compiled by (with the exception of the introduction and photograph) and reprinted with permission from Abdul Akalimat, PhD
African Art: Stolen! Returned?
Debates African Countries North America European Countries Media
Debate
University of Cambridge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5I0Jafh5ik
Columbia University https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNarYrjf2VQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2rRGojAoLs
Al Jazeera https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptCe4r-xxVU
77 Street https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPKg5IVyUTk
TRT World https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynEyDnJpF9E
African Countries
Egypt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBMwMktzbTk
Senegal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nPl4LIpOWw
Nigeria https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFbEU6pDlVw https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/nigeria-stolen-benin-bronzes-london-museum https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/nigeria-renews-call-for-return-of-benin-bronzes-following-british-museum-thefts-1234677578/
Benin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJIkhMi_6PU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz9llwTP3dg https://digitalbenin.org/catalogue?page=1&seed=gq24i-uym8y-og7ej-4bdty https://aas.princeton.edu/news/western-museums-need-return-stolen-artifacts-get-right-side-history-says-art-historian
Ghana https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VnLqaCsRwA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E493iZNG10M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw1JyojtlOI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfoKuKVHDd8
Cameroon https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/german-museums-hold-40000-artifacts-looted-from-cameroon-1234670469/ https://www.dw.com/en/colonial-art-the-case-of-a-piece-stolen-from-cameroon/a-54783942 https://english.almayadeen.net/news/art-culture/40000-looted-artifacts-from-former-colony-cameroon-in-german
North America
USA https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/10/16/african-bronzes-us-museums-stolen-british/10517798002/ https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/smithsonian-returns-29-benin-bronzes-national-commission-museums-and-monuments https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2024-02-05/ucla-fowler-museum-looted-african-art-asante-king https://umma.umich.edu/exhibitions/wish-you-were-here-african-art-and-restitution/
Canada https://thewalrus.ca/why-are-plundered-african-artifacts-still-in-western-museums/
European Countries
UK https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2021/10/12/stealing-africa-how-britain-looted-the-continents-art
France https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20211110-as-paris-museum-returns-looted-african-treasures-will-others-follow-france-s-lead
Germany https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDk_7JeheEE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWwe1jRbHWo
Belgium https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOvSsL78Pa4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjvDayj7h3Y https://www.tiktok.com/@vvssquad2020/video/7347454110960045358
Media
Al Jazeera https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFl3D6YQJQk
BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-45406557
ABC News https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_uXv-ZdRZY
DW Documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RXlVr_15JY
Russia Today https://www.rt.com/africa/595401-colonial-legacy-arts-africa/
Foreign Policy https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/01/17/benin-bronzes-africa-colonialism-slavery-art/ https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/07/25/benin-bronzes-african-art-stolen-looted-germany-europe-repatriation-colonization-slavery/
Christian Science Monitor https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2019/0430/Art-of-the-steal-European-museums-wrestle-with-returning-African-art
Arise News https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imqie5Ll0pA