The UK is returning 32 looted items from Ghana’s Asante kingdom after 150 years. The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) and the British Museum will lend 17 and 15 pieces, respectively, including a gold peace pipe and regalia items. The loan deals serve to allow objects to return without violating UK laws that prohibit permanent restitution. The items, taken during 19th-century conflicts between Britain and the Asante, hold immense cultural and spiritual significance for Ghana. The three-year loan agreements, with a possible extension, are made with Otumfo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene (Asante king). The artifacts will be displayed at the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi to commemorate the Asantehene’s silver jubilee. This initiative is seen as a step towards healing and commemorating the past violence, although it does not resolve the ownership issue. The return of looted artifacts has been a longstanding demand from countries like Nigeria and Greece, highlighting the complexities surrounding repatriation.
