Good morning.
Two prominent museums in the United Kingdom are giving back a portion of Ghana’s valuable treasures, which were taken by British soldiers over 150 years ago in a violent manner.
The objects, considered to be integral to Ghana’s cultural identity, are being borrowed instead of returned due to a British law that prohibits national museums from removing items from their collections.
Experts are optimistic that the temporary loan of 32 Asante gold artifacts by the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum will ignite discussions on the rightful repatriation of culturally and religiously significant objects to their countries of origin.
The agreement between Asante and gold, which was made following a meeting between current Asante king Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and King Charles, will be closely monitored by Athens, who desires the return of the Parthenon marbles, and Nigeria, who has been advocating for the return of the Benin bronzes.
Professor Dan Hicks, who teaches contemporary archaeology at Oxford University, expressed his approval of the agreement regarding the Asante gold. He believes it is a positive step towards returning significant artifacts to their rightful owners. However, he cautions that the process may be lengthy and complicated. Additional insights from Professor Hicks will be shared following the news updates.
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In detail: ‘Their efforts to return the items are being made while adhering to legal boundaries’
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“They are more than just mere objects,” stated Nana Oforiatta Ayim, a special advisor to Ghana’s Minister of Culture, when discussing the artefacts. These include a sword of state and gold badges known as Akrafokonmu, worn by officials responsible for purifying the king’s soul. “They hold spiritual significance and are an integral part of our nation’s essence. It is a homecoming of fragments of our identity.”
According to Ayim, lending these items to Ghana is a positive step towards healing and honoring the victims of past violence. The items will be exhibited at the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi, the capital of the Asante region, in April 2024 as part of Osei Tutu II’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
Why not consider taking out a loan?
The objects – 15 from the British Museum and 17 from the V&A – will be exhibited at Manhyia Palace for a period of three years (with the possibility of extending for an additional three years). This is due to the legal restrictions of the British Museum Act 1963 and the National Heritage Act 1983, which prohibit the trustees of prominent UK museums from permanently returning disputed artifacts from their collections.
Hicks states that the museum community is pleased to see progress in the return of these items. However, this does not necessarily indicate that loans will be the solution in all cases, such as with the Parthenon marbles and Benin bronzes. Instead, permanently and unconditionally returning stolen goods may be the preferred approach.
The agreement has sparked discontent among numerous individuals in Ghana, who are expressing their grievances on social media and local radio. Many feel that the deal is comparable to a thief borrowing back stolen possessions.
“A thief breaks into your house and steals your valuable possessions. After tracking down the thief, they reluctantly agree to ‘loan’ them back to you. Sounds absurd, right?” Lorraine King, a host on Colourful Radio in the UK, shared on X (formerly known as Twitter). “Well, the UK plans to loan Ghana the crown jewels that were taken from them 150 years ago.”
Ayim recognizes that individuals are upset about the concept of a loan, but expressed optimism that it could be the initial stage in a process that would result in their eventual repatriation. “We are aware that these objects were taken under violent circumstances, and we acknowledge that they rightfully belong to the Asante people.”
Can the name of the museum be interpreted as “British” or “Brutish”?
According to Hicks, the arrangement implies that the British Museum and the V&A are making every effort to return the items while still adhering to legal regulations.
The UK is not following the example of other nations in returning artifacts that were taken by colonial powers. France and Germany have formed a partnership to examine the process of returning items from their national museums, and the Smithsonian Museum in Washington has recently returned 29 Benin bronzes to Nigeria.
Although national museums are unable to return artefacts, private UK museums, such as those of the University of Cambridge, have returned Benin bronzes.
Hicks, who recently published The Brutish Museums: The Benin bronzes, Colonial Violence and Cultural Restitution, says the government’s refusal to change the law to allow national museums to return looted artefacts is out of step with the views of most of the UK public and the directors of the museums. (The Labour party has not expressed interest in changing the law, but Keir Starmer has indicated that he would support loaning the Parthenon marbles to Athens.)
According to Hicks, certain government officials may see this loan agreement as a temporary solution to resolve the current debate. However, I believe it will actually bring more attention to the issue and prompt the public to question what is morally just.
“When can we expect the law to be revised and the significant items to be rightfully returned to their owners?”
What other material have we been reviewing?
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Rokhaya Diallo pays tribute to Angela Davis, the veteran American philosopher, writer, activist, feminist icon and symbol of Black liberation struggles, after a French school named after her was renamed. Clare Longrigg, acting head of newsletters
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Derek Ridgewell, a former DS, is infamous for being one of the most corrupt officers in British history. He was a known racist who unfairly targeted black men, and was shielded by the police establishment. In an interview with Simon Hattenstone, the families of wrongly convicted men, who had been waiting for almost 50 years for their loved ones to be exonerated, shared their stories. Clare
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According to research conducted by Helena Horton, skiers are depositing harmful “eternal chemicals” onto ski slopes. These chemicals, known to cause cancer, are often present in ski wax and have been detected in the ground of popular ski areas.
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Skopeliti
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Sport
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The English team, known for their positive attitude in the past two years, will need a lot of it in the next seven weeks as India took the lead in the first test in Hyderabad. Despite winning the toss, England could only manage 246 runs in 64.3 overs, thanks to a strong performance by Ben Stokes who scored 70 runs. However, this did keep them in the competition.
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Luis Rubiales, the former football chief, may face a trial for kissing footballer Jenni Hermoso without her consent. A judge from Spain’s top criminal court stated this after conducting a preliminary investigation and determining that Rubiales’ action was unexpected and one-sided.
The front pages
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The headline in The Guardian reads, “UK Shortages Expected to Worsen Due to EU’s Drug Stockpiling Plan.” Meanwhile, The FT reports on the freezing of Mone’s assets as the crime agency investigates claims of PPE fraud. The i warns of a potential “tax trap” for Labour leader Starmer, who may need to reverse Tory tax cuts or cut public services.
The Times article states that the police chief is being blamed for the stabbings, while the Telegraph includes quotes from the families of victims of Valdo Calocane, the Nottingham killer, on its front page, stating that he has “gotten away with murder”. The Mirror also covers the topic with the headline “They were let down”.
The Sun has published an article about Bill Roache, titled “Corrie Bill, 91, at risk of bankruptcy”.
What are your plans for the weekend?
Do you have any weekend plans?
Our critics’ roundup of the best things to watch, read and listen to right now
TV
Griselda (Netflix)
The creators of Narcos, a show about Pablo Escobar, have taken advantage of the opportunity and created a new six-part miniseries called Griselda for Netflix. The series features Sofía Vergara (who is also an executive producer) portraying the woman who eventually becomes a feared drug kingpin known as the Cocaine Godmother. The performances in the show are all strong and the overall experience is thrilling and visually appealing. However, it’s important to remember the real-life harm and devastation caused by this individual.
Music
Reworded: “Future Islands: Those Who Have Departed”
The lead singer of the synth-pop band, Samuel T Herring, wears his heart on his sleeve and expresses both longing and infatuation in the band’s seventh album, which is both disorienting and moving. The band has chosen to refine their sound rather than make drastic changes, so if you’re familiar with any of their previous seven albums, you’ll know what to expect here: consistent rhythms, contrasting quiet and loud moments, a deep bass sound inspired by Peter Hook, a mix of cold and shimmering synthesizers influenced by early 80s OMD that take on a more stadium rock feel during the chorus, and Herring’s unique vocals. This review was written by Alexis Petridis.
Film
All of Us Strangers (cinemas nationwide)Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal and Claire Foy shine in the drama about a screenwriter who visits his childhood home to find his parents, who were killed in a car crash, still living there. Andrew Haigh’s has created a mysterious, beautiful and sentimental film- a fantasy-supernatural romance about loneliness and love. It concerns the climacteric of middle age when you realise you are probably nearer to death than birth. Peter Bradshaw
Podcast
Behind the Scenes: Behind the Scenes of The X Factor
All episodes of BBC Sounds are now available for listening.
The heady days of early reality TV are always rich pickings, and as the 20th anniversary of The X Factor dawns, Chi Chi Izundu examines it through a distinctly 2024 lens. There’s solid access to show insiders and contestants who reveal the price they paid for a shot at fame – and, in some cases, how it was worth that risk. Hannah Verdier
Today in Focus
The investigation of PPE Medpro involving Michelle Mone
Following the confession of the peer for fabricating her participation in profitable government PPE contracts during the Covid pandemic, the future of her well-known lingerie company brings up additional concerns. David Conn provides an update.
The daily cartoon by Ben Jennings.
The Upside
Some positive news to keep in mind that the world isn’t entirely negative.
A recently opened center in Porto provides a safe and hygienic space for individuals to use drugs, offering a glimmer of hope in the battle against drug addiction. In the past, around thirty years ago, approximately one out of every hundred adults in Portugal struggled with heroin addiction, leading to frequent overdoses and diseases related to drug use.
In 1999, legislators in Portugal, driven by the belief that the “war on drugs” was ineffective, enacted a radical law that removed criminal penalties for obtaining, having, and privately using small quantities of drugs. Currently, Portugal’s progressive approach to drug possession is preventing deaths and has valuable lessons for other European countries.
Register here to receive a weekly summary of The Upside, delivered to your inbox every Sunday.
Bored at work?
Lastly, the Guardian’s puzzles are available to provide entertainment for your entire day – with even more options on the Guardian’s Puzzles app for iOS and Android. See you on Monday.
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Quick crossword
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Cryptic crossword
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Source: theguardian.com
