Restitution of African art will gain pace slowly

Significance

The Smithsonian’s declaration is the latest in a series of moves by museums around the world to return African artworks taken from the continent during the colonial era.

Impacts

• New facilities such as Nigeria’s Edo Museum of West African Art counter arguments Africa lacks the capacity to host returned artworks.
• Offers to ‘loan’ African artworks back to their original owners will face resistance, as the main question is around ownership.
• ‘Digital restitution’ projects making art accessible online may be welcomed as an interim measure, but not an alternative to repatriation.