Looted Asante Royal Artefacts Displayed For
Public Viewing At The Manhyia Museum
Looted Asante royal artefacts which were taken
from the Asante land 150 years ago by the British have been returned and is
currently on display at the Manhyia museum.
Notable among these returned royal artefacts is a ceremonial cap clad with gold ornaments known as Denkyemkye, a sword of state (mpomponsuo), a gold peace pipe, three cast gold ‘soul-washers’ badges, these artefacts were taken by the British during the Anlo-Asante wars like the Sagrenti War of 1874.
A gold lute-harp which was presented to the
British diplomat, Thomas Edward Bowdich by the Asantehene Osei Bonsu during an
1817 trade treaty has also been returned.
Seven sections of sheet-gold ornaments, one silver
straining spoon, one pair of silver anklets and one section of sheet-gold
ornaments is included in the returned Asante artefacts being showcased.
The British Museum returned 15 of these artefacts and 17 of these artefacts were from the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Speaking at the public display of the looted
artefacts, the Asantehene said that the return of the royal artefacts is a
restoration of the Asante spirit.
‘We are happy our royal artefacts have been
returned. Although not all the items have been brought back to us, what has
currently been presented embodies the soul of Asante. Today is dedicated to the
people of Asante land and the Black continent. The Asante spirit we bore years
back is restored’, said Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
The general euphoria in relation to the return
of the Asante royal artefacts is very positive as hundreds of people reported
at the Manhyia museum to witness the display of the collection of expensive
royal artefacts.
However, earlier at the display of the royal
regalia, individuals present at the Manhyia Museum just before noon were asked
to return to their homes and come back at the homecoming event in the afternoon
because there were minor works that needed to be completed before the official
display of the artefacts.
Chief Negotiator, Ivor Agyemang-Duah,
disclosed that negotiations are still in progress for the return of some
hundred looted artefacts in a number of museums across the globe.
‘We are in talks with some individual art collectors and institutions in South Africa and also a couple of three leading museums and galleries in the UK. We have begun negotiations. However, I am yet to travel to meet them for a first formal negotiation’, he stated. The artefacts will be on loan for the first three years and renewable for another three years.
The looted and returned Asante royal artefacts
coincides with the silver jubilee of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II since
his ascension to the Asante throne.
By Bridget Anteh