The California Museum has returned seven royal artifacts to Ghana’s traditional Ashanti king, commemorating his silver jubilee and marking the first planned handover of Ashanti treasures looted during colonial times.
This incident corresponds with mounting demand on European and US museums and institutions to return African items taken under colonial control by former powers such as Britain, France, Germany, and Belgium. Ghana’s royal jewels, including a gold necklace, ornate chair, and elephant tail whisk, were returned from the Fowler Museum and handed during a chiefs’ ceremony at Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, Ashanti region, according to Channels TV.
The royal gold artifacts are thought to represent the ghosts of previous Ashanti emperors. Ashanti ruler Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who plays a crucial ceremonial role in Ghana, stated that returning the relics will promote harmony among his people.
“What just happened confirms what occurred so many years ago when the British attacked us and looted our treasures,” he remarked. “Let’s remain united to bring about peace and development in the kingdom.”
Ivor Agyeman Duah, the king’s counselor, stated that the objects were sacred. “Their homecoming signifies a pivotal moment of reconciliation and pride for our kingdom,” Duah said in a statement to the AFP.
The ceremony, conducted during the 150th anniversary of the 1874 Anglo-Asante war, brought together traditional leaders, legislators, and diplomats, many of whom were dressed in red and black to represent sadness. The Fowler Museum’s collection had held the returned artifacts since 1965. Unlike other institutions dealing with Ghana, the Fowler Museum did not impose any requirements, allowing Ghanaian stewards to decide on their use, whether for museum exhibitions, palace treasury, or public celebrations.
According to Ghanaian royal historian Osei-Bonsu Safo-Kantanka, “This is a special moment for the Asante people because it strengthens the bond between us and our ancestors.”
The returning objects will be on display at the Manhyia Palace Museum as part of a year-long celebration. The British Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum in London have agreed to loan gold and silver items taken from the Asante empire back to Ghana over a six-year period.
Nigeria is also in talks to repatriate hundreds of metal pieces from the 16th to 18th centuries that were taken from the ancient kingdom of Benin and are now kept in museums and private collections in the United States and Europe.
Two years ago, Benin received two dozen antiques and artworks looted by French colonial forces in 1892.