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Tag: Ashanti regalia

  • Otumfuo to replace looted Ashanti artefacts with replicas in UK museum

    Otumfuo to replace looted Ashanti artefacts with replicas in UK museum

    Asanteman, led by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the 16th Asantehene, has announced a plan to create replicas of the royal Ashanti artefacts that were stolen by the British in the 19th century.

    The plan comes after the Fowler Museum of the United Kingdom returned seven of the original artefacts to Asanteman on February 8, 2024, marking the 150th anniversary of the Sagrenti War.

    The Fowler Museum, which had displayed the looted artefacts for decades, will not leave the gallery empty, but will instead exhibit the replicas made by Asanteman. The replicas will reflect the beauty, artistry, and craftsmanship of the Ashanti culture, as well as the respect and reconciliation between the two parties.

    The Director of the Fowler Museum, Dr Silvia Forni, expressed gratitude for the offer to make replicas. She said, “We are honoured by your offer to make replicas for us so that we will forever have the opportunity to tell our visitors a better story in our gallery, one that does not glorify the violent history of the past but is formed around respect and highlights the contemporary importance and vitality of Asante culture.

    Dr Forni also acknowledged the recent research conducted by Dr Erica Jones, the Senior Curator of African Arts and Manager of Curatorial Affairs, on the artefacts, which led to the decision to return them.

    She said, “It is with great emotion that I stand here today to present to Your Majesty seven historical artworks, some of which were looted from the Palace in 1876 and others that were part of the indemnity the Asantes were forced to pay to the British at the end of the Sagrenti War.

    She praised the craftsmanship of Asanteman and emphasized the history that the artefacts have witnessed. She said, “These pieces have had a long and troubled history. They are witnesses to tragic moments in the history of the Asante Kingdom. They are also a testament to the long tradition of the beauty, artistry, and craftsmanship that have made Asante art famous throughout the world.

    The ceremony, which was held at the Kuntunkuni Durbar in Kumasi, was attended by key figures such as Dr Richel Raynor, Director of Registration and Collections Management at the Fowler Museum, Ivor Agyeman-Duah, a Ghanaian historian and museum economist, and Prof Kwesi Ampene, Chair of the Department of Music at Tufts University and a Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences.

    The Sagrenti War was a conflict that took place in 1874 between the British Army and the Ashanti Kingdom’s warriors. The war resulted in the death of several prominent Ashanti chiefs and Ashanti soldiers.

  • Asantehene holds talks with British Museum on Ashanti regalia repatriation

    Asantehene holds talks with British Museum on Ashanti regalia repatriation

    Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has held talks with the British Museum (BM) regarding the repatriation of regalia seized from the Ashanti kingdom following the Battle of Amoaful in 1874.

    During his working tour to London last week, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II also sought avenues for modern cultural cooperation, including administration and technical support for the Manhyia Palace Museum.

    The Asantehene was welcomed by Dr. Hartwig Fischer, the Museum Director, Dr. Jonathan Williams, the Deputy Director, Sam Nixon, the Head of the Africa Department and Curator, and Julie Hudson.

    Subsequently, the Asantehene emphasized that the Manhyia Museum is a thriving institution that generates revenue. He noted that, like other prominent museums, it occasionally requires additional collections to attract visitors and facilitate expansion.

    However, the repatriation of Ashanti regalia has been a subject of protracted negotiations, despite being in violation of ancient British law.

    Dr. Fischer, who led the negotiations on behalf of the British Museum, described the visit as significant and assured the Asantehene that structured legislation would be employed to address his requests.

    A memorandum of understanding (MOU) will be reviewed in a timely manner for the loaning of artefacts for the Asantehene’s silver jubilee in Kumasi in 2024.

    Furthermore, the Museum agreed to collaborate with two of the Asantehene’s advisors, Malcolm McLeod, a former history professor and vice principal at the University of Glasgow, and the former keeper of ethnography at the British Museum, to research and establish a technical framework. Ivor Agyeman-Duah, a historian, museum economist, and development specialist, is also involved in this collaborative effort.

    As the British Museum Act prohibits the permanent removal of artefacts from its collection, the ongoing technical discussions in London will address the legal implications. This includes a visit to the Manhyia Palace Museum and object authentication at the Museum for loan agreements.

    The British Museum, under Dr. Fischer’s guidance, will support the anniversary and reopening of the Manhyia Palace Museum.

    During the visit, the Asantehene was given a private tour of the current exhibition titled “Luxury and Power: Persia to Greece,” which focuses on the Greco-Persian Wars.
    In parallel negotiations, Dr. Tristram Hunt, Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), met with Mr. Agyeman-Duah in London. The Palace has confirmed that a bilateral agreement with the V&A will be signed before February 2024.

    In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the 1874 War, the V&A is developing a program proposal that will feature a collection of Asante regalia and involve collaboration between British and Ghanaian artists to create a memorial in London.

    Additionally, next year will mark the 100th anniversary of the return of Asantehene Nana Agyeman Prempeh I from exile in the Seychelles after twenty-seven years. This event will also be commemorated.

    It is worth noting that in 1874, Asantehene Otumfuo Opoku Ware II requested the return of regalia from the Director of the British Museum, Sir John Pope-Hennessy. This request eventually led to the major exhibition, “Asante Kingdom of Gold,” which was inaugurated by Opoku Ware II and the Duke of Gloucester and later travelled to the Natural History Museum in New York.

    As a result of the British Museum’s training of museum directors in Kumasi and Ghana, in partnership with Manhyia at the time, a significant BM international program in Africa is now in place.

    The discussions between the Asantehene and the British Museum signify a crucial step towards addressing the historical injustices of cultural appropriation and the repatriation of Ashanti regalia. The Ashanti kingdom treasures its regalia as important symbols of its cultural heritage and identity.

    The Manhyia Palace Museum, under the leadership of the Asantehene, has been actively involved in promoting cultural exchange and preservation. The collaboration with the British Museum opens doors for further cooperation in areas of administration, technical support, and knowledge sharing.