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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.
Keywords:
Africa,
AF,
international relations,
politics,
social,
arts,
foreign policy,
government,
human rights,
legislation,
reform
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2022
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