IV. What is to be done?

In view of the very clear position of the major Western museums not to return any of the looted/stolen African artefacts, what should be done? Below are few proposals in this regard.

1. Urgent examination of existing  ...

Call For Papers 

Critical Interventions: Journal of African Art History and Visual Culture

Fall 2010 

WHO OWNS AFRICA’S CULTURAL PATRIMONY? 

      Critical Interventions invites submissions for a  ...

It appears legitimate to question whether the directors of “universal museums” ever learn from experience. When we read the books and articles of James Cuno, Director of the Art Institute of Chicago, Neal MacGregor, Director of the British Museum,  ...

THE AMAZING DIRECTOR OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM: GRATUITOUS INSULTS AS CURRENCY OF CULTURAL DIPLOMACY? 

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It seems there is nobody in the whole of Great Britain who can persuade the Director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor, to refrain  ...

Not all have abandonned morality in the restitution of cultural artefacts by western museums

Sometimes, certain acts occur which make us believe that there is still chance for humankind and that not all persons have allowed themselves to be swept  ...

Are major africa Art exhibitions only for the western world? Ife art exhibition begins in Spain but will not be shown in Nigeria or any other african country

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A major exhibition on Ife art, Dynasty and Divinity: Ife Art in Ancient  ...

L'article ci-dessous a été publié dans Le Temps du 27 avril dernier par Eric Huysecom et j'ai accepté, sans réserve, de m'y associer, pour avoir, sans être archéologue, été confronté, en tant qu'ancien gestionnaire de collections publiques  ...

“The looting of archaeological items and the destruction of archaeological sites in Africa are a cause of irreparable damage to African history and hence to the history of humankind. Whole sections of our history have been wiped out and can never be  ...

I find the proposal to apply principles developed in child custody cases to disputes regarding the ownership of looted artefacts, very interesting but also problematic and, in the end, not feasible. (1) 

To compare cultural artefacts with  ...