Pressure grows for former colonial powers to return looted African cultural treasures

CapeTalk's John Maytham talks to Motsane Seabela, Curator for Anthropology at the Ditsong National Museum of Cultural History in Pretoria.

African nations are dialling up the pressure for former colonial powers to return cultural artefacts looted during their campaigns across the continent.

Earlier this year, the Netherlands returned 119 of the prized Benin Bronzes to the Nigerian government,

This comes nearly 130 years after they were originally looted by British colonial troops.

The British Museum, citing complications of law, is however still holding out on some of these works in its collection.

Most recently, France agreed to repatriate the treasured Djidji Ayokwe talking drum to Ivory Coast.

The sacred item was taken from the Ebrie tribe there in 1916.

Even if this kind of action is purely in response to growing pressure, it is still encouraging, says the Ditsong National Museum of Cultural History's Motsane Seabela.

"It is encouraging that a growing number of European countries are responding to the global calls for these artefacts to come back home, and either returning them or starting processes to be able to return them."

Motsane Seabela, Curator: Anthropology - Ditsong National Museum of Cultural History

In the main, more and more of these countries are becoming more receptive to negotiation, although she feels negotiation should not even be required, Ditsong says.

"You do have countries, and museums like the British Museum, that will refer you to policy in that they can offer long-term loans or indefinite loans... but it just does not make sense. How can 'someone' steal from you and then loan what they've taken?"

Motsane Seabela, Curator: Anthropology - Ditsong National Museum of Cultural History

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