King Charles to return looted royal regalia to Ghana in loan deal
Gold and silver treasure looted from West Africa by the British army in colonial wars are to be "lent" to Ghana in a three year deal, the British Museum has announced. The precious regalia, which had belonged to the Assante royal court, is regarded as part of the "national soul" of Ghana. Under the deal, 17 objects from the Victoria and Albert Museum, and 15 from the British Museum, will go on show later this year at the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi, the capital of the Assante region. The items have not been seen in Ghana for 150 years. News of the deal came as Greece renewed its call for the Parthenon marbles to be returned to Athens.
Most of the objects involved in the Ghana deal with Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the current Assante king, were looted from Kumasi during the Anglo-Assante wars in the 19th century. Some formed part of an indemnity payment forcibly extracted from from the Assante king at the time. They also include a gold lute harp. Ghana's culture minister, Nana Oforiatta Ayim, welcomed the deal as a "good starting point" in righting the wrongs of the UK's violent colonial past. Speaking to the BBC, which first reported the deal, she said "they are not just objects, they have a spiritual importance as well... they are part of the soul of the nation. It is pieces of ourselves returning."
Tristram Hunt, director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, said the items were the equivalent of Britain's crown jewels.
Source : The Guardian
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