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Manhyia Palace Museum showcases 35 looted artifacts

The Manhyia Palace has unveiled looted artifacts from the Asante Kingdom, taken by British colonizers, for public viewing.

Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II hailed the return of these artifacts as a symbolic restoration of Africa’s cultural heritage. He encouraged the public to visit the Manhyia Palace Museum to witness these significant items firsthand.

The artifacts, which were removed from the Asante Kingdom by the British 150 years ago, have been repatriated under a three-year loan agreement, subject to renewal. This agreement involves the Victoria and Albert Museum, the British Museum, and the Asante Kingdom.

The 32 repatriated artifacts comprise significant items such as the sword of state, a gold peace pipe, and various silver and gold ornaments.

During the display ceremony, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II conveyed his appreciation to the British Museum for facilitating the return of these culturally significant pieces.

“The exhibition that we are witnessing today has been through negotiations from my predecessors, where Prempeh I, when he returned, requested for these artefacts to be brought back. My uncle Prempeh II also brought up that idea in 1948 and my brother Opoku Ware also came up with this idea again and then I come here standing in front of you to negotiate.

“When I travelled in May [2023], I brought the matter up again with the British Museum and through that, here we are with all these items being returned and the agreement is for us to keep it for three years and renew it for another three years.”

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