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Tag: British Museum

  • Otumfuo Osei Tutu II pursues permanent repatriation of Asante treasures from British Museum

    Otumfuo Osei Tutu II pursues permanent repatriation of Asante treasures from British Museum


    After securing a three-year loan agreement for ancestral golden treasures from the British Museum and the V&A, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, aims to make this temporary repatriation a permanent arrangement, as reported by the UK Telegraph.

    The move is driven by the hope for future changes in British laws, which currently prevent museums from permanently returning artifacts abroad. These items, part of the royal regalia taken during the 19th century by British forces, were ceremoniously handed over in Kumasi, the seat of Asanteman, on May 1.

    Despite the British Conservative Party’s stance against such changes, the Labour Party is seen as a potential advocate for the legal amendments required for the Asante gold to remain in Ghana.

    While officially still the property of the British institutions, the Manhyia Palace and the Asantehene remain optimistic that the loan period might extend long enough for legal reforms to occur, allowing the artifacts to stay.

    Ivor Agyeman-Duah, a writer, academic, and director of the Asante king’s museum within the Manhyia Palace, voiced the community’s desire for the artifacts’ permanent return, emphasizing their spiritual significance and the need for retention by Otumfuo.

    This loan agreement marks the initial step in a broader plan to repatriate more Asante materials from the V&A and British Museum. Tristram Hunt, the V&A director and former Labour MP, supports reforming the British Museum Act 1963 and the National Heritage Act 1983, which currently restrict repatriation efforts.

    The Asantehene, occupying the Golden Stool, wields considerable influence and has been actively involved in reclaiming the regalia since May 2023, ahead of the 150th anniversary of their seizure.

    While the British Museum has hinted at “future projects” with the Asante, the current UK government maintains its position against altering the laws governing national museum collections.

    This standoff has impacted various repatriation efforts, including those for the Benin Bronzes, Ethiopian sacred tablets, and the Elgin Marbles. Despite some UK politicians, including Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, reportedly showing openness to returning the Elgin Marbles, the party has yet to formalize a policy on the matter.

  • Asante gold regalia to return home after 150 years in British museums

    Asante gold regalia to return home after 150 years in British museums

    Ghana is gearing up to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in 2024, and amidst the festivities, a monumental development unfolds. The Asante gold artefacts, looted by the British in 1874, are set to make a triumphant return to their ancestral home.

    In a remarkable push for cultural restitution, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II had engaged in discussions with the directors of the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum in London. The revered Asantehene expressed his fervent desire to have these precious items back in time for his silver jubilee on the Golden Stool.


    In May of this year, Otumfuo, accompanied by his technical advisors Ivor Agyeman-Duah (on the left) and Prof. Malcolm McLeod, engaged in discussions with British Museum officials in London.

    The Asante gold regalia, integral to the cultural heritage of the Asante people, were seized by the British following the third Anglo-Asante war of 1874. This war resulted in the destruction of the palace of Asantehene Kofi Karikari, and the subsequent imposition of a heavy indemnity of 50,000 ounces of gold.

    Among the looted items are a pipe, three pectoral discs, a pair of silver anklets, and various beaten gold pieces used for adorning state stools or swords. A portion of the gold was auctioned by the London crown jewellers, Garrard’s, to fund pensions for the wounded and next of kin.

    The anticipated return of the Asante artefacts in 2024 aligns with two other significant events in Asanteman: the celebration of 150 years since the third Anglo-Asante war and the centenary of the return of the 13th Asantehene, Prempeh I, from 28 years of exile in the Seychelles.

    The V&A Museum is actively engaged in developing a programme to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the 1874 war in London. This initiative involves collaboration between Ghanaian and British artists who will jointly create a memorial.

    To negotiate the repatriation of the artefacts, the Asantehene has assembled a team of experts, including historian and museum economist Ivor Agyeman-Duah and former Keeper of Ethnography at the British Museum, Professor Malcolm McLeod. Discussions with the V&A Museum’s director, Dr Tristram Hunt, are progressing, with an agreement expected to be signed before February 2024.

    The restitution of the Asante artefacts is poised to have a profound impact on Ghana’s tourism, academic, and cultural sectors. According to Prof. Kwame Osei Kwarteng, Provost of the College of Humanities and Legal Studies at the University of Cape Coast, the Asantehene’s rightful demand for restitution will contribute significantly to the history and identity of the Asante people.

    Prof. Kwarteng emphasizes that these artefacts, once returned, will find a home in the Manhyia Palace Museum, which has undergone extensive transformation to receive and showcase the beauty and craftsmanship of the Asante gold regalia.

    The anticipated influx of local and international visitors is expected to not only appreciate the historical significance but also promote academic research and highlight the rich culture of the Asante people.

  • Chinese media urges British Museum to return artefacts

    Chinese media urges British Museum to return artefacts

    Social media users in China are urging the British Museum to return Chinese artifacts, which were taken following the theft of approximately 2,000 objects.

    The demand became very popular on Weibo after an article in a nationalist newspaper that is controlled by the government.

    The Global Times is asking the museum to return all Chinese cultural artifacts without asking for payment.

    The Chinese government has not said anything about the problem yet.

    The BBC has contacted the British Museum for a reply, but has not yet received a response.

    The museum is feeling stressed because about 2,000 things were said to be gone, taken or harmed two weeks ago.

    An employee lost their job when the news was first announced. Last week, the person in charge, Hartwig Fischer, said he will leave his position.

    In this article, Global Times said that the famous museum did not do a good job of taking care of cultural items from other countries.

    The British Museum has been found to have big problems with how they manage and protect cultural objects. This scandal has shown that the claim that foreign cultural objects are safer in the British Museum is not true anymore.

    The British Museum has a really large collection of old Chinese things in the Western world. According to their website, they have around 23,000 Chinese items. These items range from really old times to now.

    These include many valuable things like art, jewels, and pottery. One very famous artwork is a copy of a long piece of paper called “Advice for the Ladies in the Royal Court”. It is an amazing artwork that is very important in the history of Chinese art.

    Chinese people online have been asking the British Museum for a while now to give back the things they took, because a lot of Chinese people are feeling very proud of their country.

    But more people are talking about the editorial on the theft this time.

    The hashtag “The British Museum please give back Chinese old things” was the most popular topic on Weibo’s search list until noon on Monday. This has been seen over five hundred million times.

    “Give back the things to the person who originally owned them,” says a comment that has been appreciated by over 32,000 people.

    “Now that the country has a lot of money and the people are powerful, it is time to bring our valuable things back to our home,” another top comment says.

    Many people agree with Global Times’ request, but some people were not as impressed.

    “Why not visit the UK to see our amazing things. Just talking on Weibo in China is too careful and embarrassing,” a message that over 10,000 people liked says.

    The Global Times, a newspaper that strongly supports aggressive actions, has been at the forefront of publishing critical articles in English against Western countries. This has been especially true in recent years, as China’s relationship with the West has gotten worse.

    It is uncertain if the Chinese government will do anything after receiving the requests.

    But the feeling of asking the museum to give back objects is not only felt by China.

    After hearing about the theft, other countries have also stated that they no longer believe the British Museum can keep their ancient artifacts safe.

    The Greek government has asked again for the Parthenon Sculptures, also known as the Elgin Marbles, to be returned.

    Greece’s Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, said that the safety concerns about the missing objects strengthen Greece’s ongoing request for the Elgin marbles to be returned permanently.

    Nigerian officials have asked the museum to give back the Benin Bronzes that were taken from the Benin kingdom and are now in its possession.

    Tim Loughton, a politician from the Conservative Party who leads a group in Parliament for museums, has described these requests as “opportunistic”.

    He said to the BBC that instead of taking advantage, other countries should come together to help bring back objects.

  • British Museum thefts: Director Hartwig Fischer resigns due to stolen goods

    British Museum thefts: Director Hartwig Fischer resigns due to stolen goods

    The director of the British Museum, Hartwig Fischer, will leave his job because valuable items were stolen from the museum in London.

    He said the museum did not respond fully when they were told about the thefts in 2021.

    Mr Fischer retracted his previous comments made earlier this week about the art dealer who first informed the museum authorities.

    He said he apologized for the comments he made, admitting they were a mistake.

    The museum said last week that they fired an employee because valuable things went missing, were stolen or broken.

    A few days ago, Mr. Fischer supported the museum’s investigation in 2021. They had informed an antiques dealer named Ittai Gradel that they had kept a record of all their items.

    Mr Fischer said he had a feeling that Dr. Gradel was not telling the truth about other missing things. But Gradel disagreed and called Mr. Fischer’s comment a direct lie.

    Dr Gradel said to BBC News that Mr Fischer’s decision to resign was correct. She believes he should have done it earlier, but she accepts his apology.

    Mr Fischer, who has been in the position since 2016, said he would leave as soon as the museum’s board had found someone else to take his place.

    He had already said that he would quit the job, but he was not supposed to leave until 2024.

    Full statement by Hartwig Fischer

    In the past few days, I have been carefully looking into what happened when things were stolen from the British Museum and how they were investigated.

    The British Museum didn’t respond as well as it should have to warnings in 2021, and now the problem is fully here. The director is ultimately responsible for that failure.

    I was wrong about what I said earlier this week about Dr. Gradel I’m really sorry and take back what I said.

    I told the chairman of the trustees that I am resigning from my position. Once the board has figured out who will take over for now, I will officially leave the job. This will stay the same until a new leader is picked.

    The Museum is in a very serious situation. I really think we will get through this difficult time and become even stronger. However, I’m sorry to say that I think my presence is causing problems and distracting others.

    “I really don’t want that at all. ” In the past seven years, I have had the honor of working with very skilled and committed government workers.

    “The British Museum is a wonderful place, and I feel very proud to be in charge of it. ”
    A thin grey line measuring 2 pixels is shown.

    George Osborne, the previous finance minister who now oversees the museum, said that Mr. Fischer’s decision to step down had been approved.

    He said that Mr Fischer had done the right thing by acknowledging and addressing the mistakes that were made.

    Mr Osborne said that nobody has ever questioned Hartwig’s honesty, his commitment to his work, or his passion for the museum.

    He said that the trustees would make sure the museum had the right leaders to guide it during this difficult time while we figure out what mistakes were made.

    “I understand this very well: we will correct any problems,” he said. We will acquire knowledge, regain trust, and receive admiration once more.

    Gradel alerted the museum about stolen objects from its collection two years ago.

    Emails that the BBC saw indicate that he started to feel suspicious after he unexpectedly found a photo of a Roman cameo piece that was supposedly being sold online.

    He said that the item used to be on the museum’s website but it has been taken down now.

  • 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.

  • 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 engaged the British Museum regarding regalia seized from the Ashanti kingdom following the Battle of Amoaful in 1874.

    As part of his working visit to London, he also requested areas of contemporary cultural cooperation in the management and technical assistance with the Manhyia Palace Museum.

    The Museum Director, the German art historian, Dr Hartwig Fischer, the Deputy Director; Dr Jonathan Williams and the Head of the Africa Department and Curator, Sam Nixon and Julie Hudson welcomed the Asantehene who later explained that the Manhyia Museum which is undergoing major restructuring and expansion is a living one and profit-making.

    It needed, like all major museums, other collections to occasionally strengthen patronage and growth.

    This he said, was notwithstanding the laws of antiquity in Britain even as long-time negotiations continued.

    Dr Fischer who led the BM team in discussions described the visit as an august one and would work towards the Asantehene’s wishes through the structured laws.

    A previous MOU would be reviewed on time for the loaning of items for the Asantehene’s silver jubilee in Kumasi next year.

    Asantehene leads discussions with British Museum over regalia taken from Ashantis
    Otumfuo with technical advisors-Ivor Agyeman-Duah and Malcolm McLeod

    The Museum also agreed to study and work on a technical framework by two of the Asantehene’s advisors: the former Keeper of Ethnography at the BM and previous Professor of History and Vice Principal of the University of Glasgow, Malcolm McLeod.

    He had in 1994 led the establishment of the Manhyia Palace Museum. The co-technician of the framework is historian, museum economist and development specialist, Ivor Agyeman-Duah.

    The technical discussions which started this week in London would also lead to visitations to the Manhyia Palace Museum, object identification at the Museum for loan agreements and other legal implications as the British Museum Act does not allow permanent removal of items from its collection.

    The BM led by Dr Fischer would also be involved in the Manhyia Palace Museum reopening and anniversary.

    The Asantehene was given a private tour of the current exhibition, Luxury and Power- Persia to Greece which centres on the Greco-Persian Wars.

    On behalf of the Palace, the Daily Graphic has also confirmed that Mr Agyeman-Duah continued discussions with the Director of the world’s leading art and design institution, the Victoria and Albert Museum’s (V&A), Dr Tristram Hunt in London.

    A bilateral agreement with the Palace would be signed before February 2024.

    The V&A which has a collection of Asante regalia is developing a programme concept for next February which would mark the 150th year of the 1874 War. A group of Ghanaian and British artists would jointly be engaged in a memorial in London.

    Next year also marks the 100th anniversary of the return of exile from Seychelles of Asantehene Nana Agyeman Prempeh I after twenty-seven years.

    In 1976, the late Asantehene Otumfuo Opoku Ware II on the centenary of 1874 made a request (return of regalia) to the Director of the BM Sir John Pope-Hennessy who together with the Trustees later organized the major exhibition, Asante Kingdom of Gold which was opened by Opoku Ware II and the Duke of Gloucester which also travelled to the Natural History Museum in New York.

    The BM as part of the cooperation with Manhyia at the time, trained museum managers in Kumasi and Ghana which has today led to the major BM International programme in Africa.