By Princess Eugene Majuru
Kumasi, Ghana – A significant moment in African heritage restitution unfolded this week as over 130 gold and bronze artefacts, dating back to the 1870s and early 20th century, were officially returned to the Asante King, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi. The return, a joint effort involving institutions and a major South African company, marks a powerful step towards reconciling the region’s colonial history.
What Was Returned, When, and How
The collection of more than 130 items includes highly significant pieces of royal regalia, ceremonial gold weights, and drums. These objects are central to the cultural, spiritual, and governance systems of the Asante Kingdom. The items returned originated from two main sources:
AngloGold Ashanti (South Africa): The South African mining giant returned the majority of the items—a substantial portion of the 130+ artefacts. These pieces were reportedly “legitimately acquired on open markets” by the company, not directly looted by them. The handover was described as a voluntary act of cultural respect and reconciliation, particularly notable amid historical tensions between the company and the local Ashanti region residents over mineral resource exploitation.
British Art Historian Hermione Waterfield (UK): Twenty-five other items were donated by Ms. Waterfield. These gifts included a wooden drum believed to have been seized during the infamous 1900 siege of Kumasi by British colonial forces.
The artefacts date back to the period of the Anglo-Asante Wars (1870s-early 1900s), a series of conflicts in which the British plundered the Asante King’s palace, most notably in 1874 and during the 1900 siege of Kumasi. The current repatriated collection contains items that were either looted during these colonial wars or later dispersed globally through the art market.
Conditions of Return and Voluntary Repatriation
A key distinction in this repatriation is the nature of the handover:
Returner Status of Return Conditions Willingness
AngloGold Ashanti Permanent Return (Voluntary) None reported; seen as an unconditional, voluntary gesture. Willingly Returned: The company returned items it had purchased on the open market, stating it was an act of goodwill and respect.
Hermione Waterfield Permanent Return (Donation) None reported; a donation from a private collector/historian. Willingly Returned: The items were voluntarily donated by the historian.
This differs from other recent returns to the Asante King, such as those from the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), which were controversial as they were provided only under long-term loan agreements (typically 3-6 years) due to UK legislation preventing permanent deaccessioning.
Asante King Hails “Goodwill and Respect”
Asante King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II welcomed the return on Sunday at the Manhyia Palace Museum. He specifically thanked AngloGold Ashanti for their voluntary action regarding the market-acquired pieces, stating the gesture reflected “goodwill and respect for the source and legacy of the Asante kingdom.”
The return is a major victory for the ongoing efforts of the Asante Kingdom and African nations to reclaim their plundered cultural heritage, which has been scattered across Western institutions and private collections for over a century. It places pressure on other major institutions to follow suit with permanent, unconditional repatriation.
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