Ghana’s Asante king, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has welcomed the return of 130 gold and bronze artefacts from the UK and South Africa, some of which were looted during colonial times and others bought on the open market.
The items, including royal regalia, drums, and ceremonial gold weights, date back to the 1870s and reveal the cultural role gold played in Asante society.
Twenty-five pieces were donated by British art historian Hermione Waterfield, while the rest were returned by South African mining company AngloGold Ashanti as an act of cultural respect and reconciliation.
The return comes amid tensions between AngloGold Ashanti and local residents, who accuse the company of exploiting mineral resources without contributing to local development or job creation.
The Asante king thanked AngloGold Ashanti for voluntarily returning artefacts legitimately acquired on open markets, describing it as a gesture of goodwill and respect for the Asante kingdom’s legacy.
This development is part of a broader movement across Africa to reclaim looted artefacts and address colonial legacy.
In 2022, Germany returned Benin bronzes to Nigeria, and last year, 32 looted artefacts were loaned to Ghana’s Manhyia Palace Museum from British museums.
