It Is Now Time for the West to Return African Art

Ancient art's soft power brings tourism, diplomacy and shapes civilizations' values via researched artifacts, admired by many.

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Africa's ancient artifacts admired globally, but its art is stolen, leaving African museums with limited soft power.

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Stolen ancient African art is being repatriated back home, over 5,300 artifacts returned to Cairo since 2021.

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Horniman Museum returned looted Benin artifacts, pressuring British Museum to return over 900 objects, citing legal restrictions.

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Germany will return 1,100 artifacts to Nigeria and a female figure to Cameroon, provoking a civic initiative in Berlin.

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National laws may not prevent returning artifacts. Tourists reject museums profiting from others' art. Retention may reduce attraction.

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Over half a million African artifacts are in Europe, Belgium reviews Congo acquisitions. Demands faded in the 1980s.

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Resistance to returning ancient art to Africa may harm European museums, as restitution can improve relations with African countries.

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