Ghana’s Asante King, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has celebrated the return of 130 royal artifacts from the UK and South Africa, marking another milestone in Africa’s push for cultural restitution. The gold and bronze pieces—including regalia, drums, and ceremonial weights dating back to the late 1800s—were handed over at a ceremony in Kumasi’s Manhyia Palace. The pieces were voluntarily returned by two notable donors: South African mining firm AngloGold Ashanti, which framed its donation as an act of respect, and British art historian Hermione Waterfield, a long-time supporter of African art restitution. Many of the treasures were looted during the Anglo-Asante wars, when British troops twice plundered the royal palace. This homecoming signals a growing global movement to restore looted cultural property to its rightful origins, strengthening the living legacy of the Asante people for future generations.
BBC
