A few of the less expensive and exotic items left in Ghana after the British finished plundering. |
I did an immediate double take on hearing this news
headline on BBC; “ UK to loan back Ghana's looted 'crown
jewels'”.
Thinking I had misheard, I made sure not to be distracted
when the story itself was being read.
No, the headline was not incorrect.
The entire story was shocking.
Ghana was the 'gold coast'. |
The story continued; In receiving the stolen
objects which are now being loaned back to the owners, Nana Oforiatta Ayim,
special adviser to Ghana's culture minister, told the BBC: "They're not
just objects, they have spiritual importance as well. They are part of the soul
of the nation. It's pieces of ourselves returning."
These particular items now being ‘loaned to Ghana’ were stolen in 1874 when British troops launched a punitive expedition against the Ashante kingdom, ransacking Kumasi and taking many of the palace treasures.
Spears versus muskets |
You know, over the years, one has heard rumours about
various British institutions refusing to return sacred stolen property to
Africa, but this BBC story aired on January 24, 2024, was still shocking,
as these items had been among the crown jewels of the Ashante Kingdom.
The BBC's story also pointed out that the plundering of the crown jewels of Ashante Kingdom by Britain, was by no means an isolated affair, for the habit of stealing crown jewels from Africa was well established. Another example is the Benin Bronzes.
These are the thousands of sculptures and
plaques looted by Britain from the palace of the Kingdom of Benin, in
modern-day southern Nigeria.
Nigeria has
been demanding their return for decades but up to now, they haven’t been able to
get them back.
I guess Britain may loan them to that nation
one day!
The victims of the massive theft that Britain carried out in Africa over the centuries should stop accepting this arrogance as a fait accompli. This contemptible attitude by the descendants of the exploiters is totally unacceptable.
All stolen
artifacts, especially those of spiritual and cultural importance should be
returned forthwith.
Surely the descendants of the nations whose cultural
items were looted by the invaders should not be accepting loans (of
their own things) from Britain in order that their people can learn the great
history of the tribes that were once were supreme in Africa!
What amazes me, is how little feedback there has been
to this story both in Britain and among their many victims, for I have been
searching the internet extensively and the silence is deafening.
I wonder if the generations to come will be as docile
in accepting these indignities?
It is not only in Africa that this happened but also
in Australia and New Zealand. Could this maiden speech delivered in parliament in
New Zealand in her native Maori language by that country’s youngest parliamentarian, 21-year-old Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, be a sign that the descendants of the
victims will be a new less accepting and compliant in the future?
Or is it just entertainment for the over 7 million
people who have seen it so far?
Watch it at; https://youtu.be/xPiJftYyovw?feature=shared and tell me what
you think.
3 comments:
Fantastic article. Thanks for reminding me of the indignity of our subjugation. This must stop!
I heard the news too and thought I'd missed out a part of it. Lending them??? So what if they decide not to return them?
If I had a say, the British would never get them back😡
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