Recently, the United Kingdom finally plans to return the antiquities!
Or, more precisely, a group of looted cultural relics from Ghana and then lent them to Ghana......
(Some of the artefacts lent to Ghana by the United Kingdom)
The artifacts were not given to the Ghana government, but to Otumfo Osei Tutu II, the current king of Ashanti.
Because these artifacts were looted by the British from the Ashanti kingdom about 150 years ago.
(Ashanti's current king, Otunfuvo Nana Osai Tutu II)
The Ashanti people ruled large areas of Ghana in the 18th and 20th centuries.
The Ashanti kingdom gained a great deal of wealth through the trade in gold and agricultural products, but also participated in the slave trade.
Between 1824 and 1900, the Ashanti kingdom was engaged in five armed conflicts with Britain and its African allies.
Both sides won, but in the fourth and fifth conflicts, the British won, annexing the kingdom of Ashanti as a colony.
After that, the British began to loot Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Kingdom, and the royal palace, and it was at this time that the artifacts came into the hands of the British, including a lot of gold treasures.
Some were sold to the British, and some were "given" to Britain as war reparations.
In 1935, the Ashanti Commonwealth was re-established and self-governed, but ceased to be an independent country and became an administrative district on the British Gold Coast.
In 1957, after the establishment of Ghana, Ashanti became an administrative district directly under the central government, and the king was retained, who is now the supreme chief of the Ashanti Federation.
The current King Ashanti has a good relationship with the United Kingdom, and he also attended Charles's coronation last year.
Now, the British plan to "lend" the 32 artifacts looted back at that time to King Ashanti.
(Ashanti's current King and Charles)
The artefacts are currently housed at the Victoria & Albert Museum, with 17 on loan and 15 at the British Museum.
Among them, the top hat worn by the court ministers of the Ashanti kingdom;
(Ashanti Chancellor's Hat)
the sword of Shang Fang in the palace of Ashanti;
(Ashanti Shangfang Sword)
ceremonial pipes;
(Pipe)
gold collar;
(Collar)
gold rings;
(Ring)
Gold model harp and much more.
In the words of the current director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, these artefacts are as precious as Britain's "imperial treasures".
(Model Harp)
Curators say they have a responsibility to ask countries of origin to consider how to deal with them more fairly now, when looted in wars and military operations.
"In my opinion, if we have this partnership and exchange model, all of our museums will not go downhill. ”
(Artifacts lent to Ghana by the United Kingdom)
However, this model in the UK was not unique to Turin.
The loan was conditional on a three-year agreement between the British and Ashanti to lend the antiquities to King Ashanti, which could be extended for another three years.
Moreover, this "lending" is conditional.
The agreement stipulates that the recipient must recognise British ownership of the objects, which means that the UK can also take them back.
(Artifacts lent to Ghana by the United Kingdom)
British media reported on the incident that the attempt "might pave the way for the loan of Elgin marbles."
(related reports)
The Elgin marble sculptures mentioned here are a group of stone sculptures that the British got back from the Parthenon in Greece, which are now stored in the British Museum and are the treasures of their museums.
Greece has always wanted to get the stone carvings back, but Britain has never given them, and the two sides have been pulling for many years.
(Elgin Marble)
Some time ago, the theft of the British Museum was on the hot search, allowing Greece to seize the opportunity to ask for stone carvings again on the grounds that "the safety of cultural relics cannot be guaranteed".
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was in support of the request for cultural relics during the interview, and British Prime Minister Sunak released pigeons, and the meeting was temporarily canceled, which was very unpleasant.
A source at the British Museum has told the media that they are "trying to strengthen their relationship with their Greek counterparts" and would like to discuss with Greece whether they can lend some of the stone sculptures first or find other mutually beneficial solutions.
However, the Greek side will not necessarily agree.
The reason is that they do not want to recognize British ownership of antiquities.
(Elgin Marble)
Regarding the loan of cultural relics this time, the attitude of British netizens is also very different.
"Give them back their trinkets, and stop giving them the money from British taxpayers. Win-win. ”
(Screenshot from the comment area of "Daily Mail")
"It's humiliating to steal something and then lend it to its original owner. ”
(Screenshot from the comment area of "Daily Mail")
"They will 'disappear' very quickly. ”
- The netizen replied: "It should be up to the original owner to decide what to do with them." ”
(Screenshot from the comment area of "Daily Mail")
"We have always been the caretakers of some of the greatest artifacts in the world...... If we don't, will these things still exist?"
- Netizen replied 1: "It's still going to exist... Ashanti will take care of their royal jewels..."
- Netizen replied 2: "Isn't there a person who works at the British Museum and sells artifacts on eBay?"
(Screenshot from the comment area of "Daily Mail")
It is not difficult to see from the attitude of netizens that the road home of cultural relics is far from being paved......