The United Kingdom has returned 32 gold and silver artefacts looted from Ghana over 150 years ago. The items, including a gold peace pipe, a sword of state, and gold badges, were taken from the Asante king’s court during 19th-century conflicts between the British and the powerful Asante people.
These artefacts have been sent on a long-term loan to Ghana by the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) and the British Museum, with the objects expected to be officially returned to the current Asante King, King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, on Friday. The artefacts will be displayed next month at the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi as part of the celebrations marking the king’s silver jubilee.
The loan deal for the return of the artefacts was negotiated directly with the King of Asante, bypassing the Ghanaian government. Nana Oforiatta Ayim, special adviser to Ghana’s culture minister, described the objects as “part of the soul of the nation,” emphasizing their cultural significance.
The return of these artefacts is part of an important cultural collaboration between the UK museums and Ghana. Some national museums in the UK, including the V&A and the British Museum, are prohibited by law from permanently returning contested items in their collections. Therefore, loan deals like this allow these objects to return to their countries of origin.
The Asante people, known for their military might and wealth, built one of the most powerful states in West Africa, trading in gold, textiles, and enslaved people. The return of these artefacts comes ahead of celebrations marking the silver jubilee of the Asantehene, highlighting the kingdom’s enduring legacy amidst its complex history with European powers.
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