An extensive research project has revealed that the University of Cambridge holds an estimated 350,000 African artefacts in its collections. These items, ranging from human remains and natural history specimens to photographs and manuscripts, highlight a complex legacy tied to British colonization.
Dr. Eva Namusoke, the Fitzwilliam Museum’s senior curator for African Collections Future, led the 15-month investigation, collaborating with librarians, curators, and archivists. She explored various storage facilities and archives to document the artefacts.
While it is not uncommon for large museums to keep the majority of their collections in storage, Dr. Namusoke expressed surprise at the scale and diversity of the items. Many of these artefacts, some unseen for decades, originate from across the African continent.
This initiative is part of ongoing efforts by the university to address the colonial history tied to its museums. Most of the artefacts were acquired during British colonial rule. Dr. Namusoke hopes the findings will encourage further research and public engagement with these items, many of which remain undisplayed.
The artefacts were discovered across eight museums, the Botanic Garden, the University Library, and several lesser-known departmental collections. Highlights include Maasai armlets donated by a colonial official, a mammal collected in a Boer War concentration camp, medieval Jewish manuscripts, and early photographs of African people.
The project emphasizes the need for greater transparency and access, fostering deeper understanding of Africa’s cultural heritage and the role of institutions in preserving it.
