The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has called on the British government to review some of its statutes enforcing illegality.
Otumfuo wants the looted Asante artefacts looted by the British some years ago be returned to its original owners.
His call comes on the back of some 32 artefacts looted by the British forces during the colonial era that were recently loaned to the Manhyia Palace.
Delivering a lecture on ‘Asante Culture and Heritage: Past and Present’ in the UK, the Asantehene argued that it is long overdue for such laws to be reviewed.
“All of us are victims of a system in need of an update. We are either victims of a system that denies us justice or victims of a system that prevents us from administering justice and doing what we know to be the right thing. From both sides, we need to sincerely appeal to our conscience, because nobody disputes the fact that much of the cultural objects were obtained through illegal and unethical circumstances. Can anyone in good conscience sustain the enactment of a law to protect illegality?” he stressed.
The return of the looted artefacts, according to the Asantehene, has revived a new sense of pride in the Asante heritage and creativity of young artists.
“The return is being celebrated at one level with the same reverence as heroes of a state returning from enforced exile, and at another level as marking the spiritual re-connection with lost souls. Critically for me, it has stirred among the youth not just a new model of self-believing confidence in their heritage but an inspiration to thrive to add to that heritage of creativity and innovation,” the Otumfuo noted.
Osei Tutu Ababio, also disclosed that engagement for the restitution of the looted artefacts dates back 50 years.
“My brother, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, who succeeded our uncle, Osei Agyemang Prempeh II, continued with this quest and even held a major exhibition in collaboration with the British museum in 1982. That formal cooperation with this museum as inherited correspondences show, has been on for 50 years and the ultimate issue of the return of objects has danced around some other forms of cultural cooperation until recently,” he explained.
Source:onuaonline.com