In a significant milestone, the British Museum (BM) and the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) have forged a historic loan agreement with Ghana, marking the return of 32 gold regalia items that were looted during military operations in the 19th century. The precious artefacts, predominantly comprising royal regalia and crafted with gold, will find a new home at the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi, the former capital of the Asante (Ashanti) empire.

The deal, initiated during Asantehene Osei Tutu II's visit to London in May 2021, materialised with the involvement of key figures, including the directors of the BM and V&A, Hartwig Fischer and Tristram Hunt, respectively. Advisors to the Asantehene, former BM curator Malcolm McLeod, and Ghanaian historian Ivor Ageyeman-Duah played instrumental roles behind the scenes.

The complexity of the situation stems from the legal inability of the UK museums to deaccession the objects. Consequently, the items are being returned as long-term loans, with an initial period of three years. The expectation is that these loans will be regularly renewed, contingent upon the smooth progression of the arrangement.

Most notably, this repatriation will allow Ghanaians to witness these revered items in their homeland for the first time in 150 years. The Kumasi museum, situated within the royal compound, is set to reopen in April, coinciding with the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the present Asantehene's reign. This year also marks the 150th anniversary of the 1874 punitive expedition, a notorious event that led to the looting of the royal palace, with further pilfering occurring during a subsequent British military operation in 1896.

Acknowledging the cultural, historical, and spiritual significance of the looted objects to the Asante people, a joint statement by the BM and V&A recognises the inextricable link between these seizures and British colonial history in West Africa. Some items were part of a British indemnity payment forcibly extracted from the Asantehene, while others were auctioned and subsequently dispersed among museums and private collectors.

The V&A, in its contribution to the repatriation effort, is lending 17 items, including pieces acquired at a London auction in April 1874. These acquisitions comprise gold objects looted during the February raid on the royal palace, encompassing three gold soul discs, seven gold ornaments, a silver straining spoon, and a pair of silver anklets.

This monumental step reflects a broader movement towards rectifying historical injustices and fostering cultural restitution, signalling a transformative chapter in the relationship between Ghana and these prominent UK museums.

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