Accra: The Restitution Africa Forum has been launched in Accra to promote dialogue on the return of African cultural heritage and the restoration of the continent's identity and dignity. The initiative seeks to broaden restitution efforts beyond the return of artefacts to include the recovery of knowledge, identity, and cultural heritage affected by colonialism.
According to Ghana News Agency, the launch event featured Professor Obeng, Principal Investigator and Lead Architect of the Forum, who explained that the initiative stemmed from years of collaborative research on African cultural heritage at the University of Ghana, supported by the Open Society Foundation. The research involved fieldwork in Ghana and neighbouring countries including C´te d'Ivoire, Benin, Togo, and Nigeria, focusing on how restitution had been implemented where cultural items had already been returned.
The event also showcased the presentation of a book titled 'Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah: Sankofa,' authored by Professor Kwasi Nkrumah Boadi, Researcher and Convenor of the Restitution Africa Forum. Attendees included representatives of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, the French Embassy, UNESCO, academics, and other dignitaries.
Prof. Gavua recounted a research visit to a museum in Germany where more than 450 artefacts from Ghana were found in storage, many collected by the North German Missionary Society from the Peki area. He shared that gaining access required opening multiple doors, indicating the extent to which these cultural items were hidden away. The research team also engaged with local chiefs, elders, shrine custodians, and practitioners of African spirituality to gather perspectives on restitution.
Further workshops were conducted at the Elmina Beach Resort in the Central Region and the University of Cape Coast, culminating in a broader African Restitution Workshop. This event brought together scholars and practitioners from Togo, Cape Town, Zimbabwe, and UNESCO. The consensus was the establishment of a forum to serve as a continuous platform, particularly for younger generations.
Prof. Gavua highlighted the impact of colonialism, which he described as an extension of enslavement, stripping Africans of political and legal authority, discouraging the use of local languages, and labeling African spiritual objects as fetish. He emphasized that reparation is about restoring dignity and repairing mental damage inflicted during colonial times.
The Forum aims to support government initiatives on restitution and reparations, and serve as a platform for research, education, and advocacy, especially among young Africans. Professor Pashington Obeng, CEO of the Pan African Heritage Museum, stressed that restitution transcends the physical return of artefacts and includes the restoration of identities, creativity, and spiritual dimensions erased during colonial rule.
Mr. Edmond Moukala, representing UNESCO, noted that more than 70 percent of ancient African cultural objects remain outside the continent, commending Ghana's leadership in advancing restitution efforts. He described restitution as the restoration of contexts, narratives, and relationships, not merely the transfer of objects.
Prof. Boadi's book, 'Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah: Sankofa,' extends the concept of restitution into governance and political thought, advocating for a modernized African consensual democracy instead of adopting Western multi-party systems. The publication introduces readers to pre-colonial Ghana, the colonial period, and contemporary efforts by Africans and the diaspora to reclaim cultural heritage.