Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Reymond Awusei Johnson
Published on 2024-02-03 15:01:25
The presentation marking the 150th anniversary of the war at Dwaberem will coincide with the commencement durbar, with the Manhyia Palace leading the delegation. Dr. Silvia Forni, Director of the Fowler Museum at the University of California, Los Angeles, will be part of the three-person delegation for the official presentation. The objects were housed at the Fowler Museum for nearly 60 years.
Dr. Forni will be accompanied by Dr. Rachel Raynor, Director of Registration and Collections, Dr. Erica Jones, Curator of the Africa Department, and Professor Kwesi Ampene, Chair of the Music Department at Tufts University.
The objects to be presented were acquired by the Fowler Museum in 1965 from the Wellcome Trust, a significant foundation overseeing the Wellcome Collection museum and library in Britain. Sir Henry Wellcome, a distinguished British-American art collector and industrialist, is commemorated through the Wellcome Collection.
After several years of discussions between the Fowler Museum and the Manhyia Palace, a decision was made to repatriate the objects. The items left California under a CITES permit granted in December, paving the way for their permanent return.
Historian Ivor Agyeman-Duah confirmed the development and cited a shift in university policy regarding looted items as a contributing factor to the decision to repatriate. This revised policy enables the return of such items to their original owners.
Agyeman-Duah also announced a new cultural cooperation initiative in progress. The collaboration involves the Fowler Museum and UCLA, the Manhyia Palace Museum, and the College of Art and Built Environment at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. As envisioned by the Asantehene, who also serves as the University’s Chancellor, this initiative marks a step toward fostering cultural collaboration.
The objects being repatriated date back to the period before Asantehene Kofi Karkari in the 1840s. They include an ornamental chair of wood, brass, leather, and iron; ten large beads used as bracelets or anklets; strands of seed or bug-shaped beads; gold of an elephant hair, glass, and silver; a royal stool ornament; a royal necklace, and a royal stool ornament.
The repatriation of these objects represents a significant step in acknowledging and rectifying historical injustices. The decision to return these objects to their place of origin demonstrates a commitment to righting the wrongs of the past and fostering positive and collaborative relationships between institutions and communities. This initiative not only honors the cultural heritage of the Ashanti people but also serves as a model for future repatriation efforts and cultural cooperation initiatives. The ongoing collaboration between the Fowler Museum, UCLA, and the institutions in Ghana sets a precedent for how cultural cooperation can be mutually beneficial and respectful.
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