A new video game, Relooted, allows players to reclaim African artifacts from fictionalized Western museums, spotlighting the ongoing debate over restitution. Developed by South Africa’s Nyamakop, the game is set in a futuristic Johannesburg and features a crew of scientists, programmers, and fighters guided by retired art historian Professor Grace. While the artifacts are real, museums are reimagined, and players outsmart security systems to retake the items rather than using force, contrasting the violent origins of how many artifacts were originally taken. The project raises awareness of Africa’s stolen treasures, including the Benin Bronzes, and the frustration over slow restitutions from Europe and the US. By blending African Futurism with interactive storytelling, Relooted offers gamers a way to engage with African history, culture, and contemporary debates about repatriation.
CNN
