Asante King reclaims looted treasures from UK and South Africa

In a historic moment for cultural restitution, Ghana’s Asante King, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has welcomed the return of more than 130 royal artefacts from Britain and South Africa. The ceremonial handover took place at the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi, marking a significant step toward restoring the dignity and history of the Asante Kingdom.

The returned items include gold regalia, bronze ornaments, ceremonial drums and ancient gold weights, many of which were looted during British invasions of Kumasi in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These artefacts, dating back between 45 and 160 years, form part of the Asante people’s cultural identity and royal legacy.

Among the returned collection are 110 pieces from the Barbier-Muller Museum in Geneva, originally assembled by Swiss collector Josef Müller in 1904, and 25 others donated by British art historian Hermione Waterfield. Several of these artefacts were believed to have been seized during the 1900 siege of Kumasi, one of the most violent encounters between British forces and the Asante Empire.

King Osei Tutu II expressed gratitude to the institutions and individuals who facilitated the returns, including AngloGold Ashanti, which played a role in securing some items after they appeared in private collections. He emphasised that the artefacts represent not only the artistic brilliance of the Asante people but also their enduring sovereignty and resilience.

Cultural experts have hailed the return as a symbolic act of justice. For decades, African nations have called for the restitution of looted heritage, arguing that the artefacts embody their people’s spiritual and political essence. The Asante treasures, once displayed in foreign museums, will now be preserved and exhibited in Ghana, allowing future generations to reconnect with their history.

This event follows earlier returns in 2024, when the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum loaned 32 gold and silver items to Ghana. While those were temporary loans, the latest restitution signifies a more permanent acknowledgment of colonial injustices and the rightful ownership of African cultural heritage.

As the golden regalia glistened once again under Kumasi’s sun, it was not only a homecoming of royal possessions but a reclamation of pride and memory. For the Asante Kingdom, the return of these treasures is a reminder that cultural identity, though displaced, can always find its way back home.