A new book by journalist-turned-historian Barnaby Phillips examines the British Empire’s looting of Asante treasures during military campaigns in present-day Ghana in the late 19th century. The account traces Britain’s 1873–74 invasion, led by Sir Garnet Wolseley, whose forces overwhelmed the Asante army thanks to superior weaponry. The British troops then marched to Kumasi, where they looted the Asante palace, seized priceless royal artifacts, and burned the city. A second expedition in 1895–96 repeated the pattern and resulted in the exile of Asantehene Agyeman Prempeh, the Asante king, to the Seychelles. Many of the stolen objects entered British museums or military collections, fueling a long-running debate over ownership and restitution. The book also explores recent efforts to address that legacy, including the 2024 long-term loans of 32 Asante artifacts from the Victoria and Albert Museum and the British Museum, highlighting the continuing global debate over colonial-era cultural heritage.
African Business