4.6 C
New York
Friday, September 22, 2023

Smithsonians Return Policy To Favor The Return Of Stolen African Art

Date:

Share post:

Smithsonian’s new ethical return policy will now favor the return of stolen African art.

According to a statement released on Tuesday by the Smithsonian Institution, it was announced that a new policy is being put in place that will ensure that all artwork that was looted or unethically taken would be returned to its rightful owners.

This policy will now favor several African nations whose artworks have been taken for years and kept in museums in countries around the world.

The new Smithsonians return policy by the famous Museum is a bid to ensure that art from Africa is treated with the utmost respect.

The new policy will ensure that a special Smithsonian repatriation process is put in place for items in its collection that were considered illegally or unethically gotten.

Located in about 21 places around the world, the Smithsonian museums will decide based on research and “other factors,” what art should be deemed “unethically acquired” and how to handle it’s return.

Smithsonian’s return policy

Smithsonians Return Policy

In it’s statement, addressing its new policy, Smithsonian noted that “circumstances demonstrating unethical acquisition may include items that were stolen, taken under duress, or removed without the consent of the owner.”

The new guideline appears to fight an age-old practice that permits museums to claim lawful ownership of items in their collections.

“When we talk about the shared stewardship of collections, what we are really talking about is a change of both scholarly practice and philosophy,” Kevin Gover, the Smithsonian’s Secretary for Museums and Culture, said.

According to NPR, the decision comes after the Smithsonian decided to return its Benin Bronzes collection to Nigeria in March.

Some objects in the National Museum of Natural History are being considered for return, including pottery from the ancient city of Troy that was sourced from a dig site in Turkey.

A photo of a Black jazz player in the National Museum of American History is featured in another piece, and many academics “dislike the history of the photo,” according to a spokesman.

Read also; History, life, and times of Afrobeat Legend and activist, Fela Kuti

1 COMMENT

  1. Hay varios museos en el mundo que basan sus colecciones presentadas en elementos productos de saqueos de la época colonial y sería bueno que se pronunciaran al respecto siguiendo el ejemplo de los norteamericanos.Recuerdo unos moais-que son estatuas de piedra de la isla de Pascua o Rapa Nui, de soberanía chilena- que fueron robados y están en museos ingleses. Chile en 1888 tomo posesión de Isla de Pascua incorporándola a la soberanía nacional para protegerlas del pillaje y la esclavitud a la que estaban sometidas por las potencias europeas desde mucho tiempo,hoy la Nación Rapa Nui esta reconocida como pueblo originario de plenos derechos de igualdad como todos los demás chilenos .

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Get Our Stories First

- Advertisement -

Related articles

Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame Declares Intention for 2024 Re-election Campaign

Kagame, who became president in 2000, is eligible to continue in office for another decade after a constitutional amendment in 2015.

South Africa Urges Two-Minute Showers as Water Shortage Persists

In addition, residents are being urged to refrain from filling swimming pools until the water shortage crisis subsides

Kenyan Military Helicopter Crashes Near Somalia Border, Claiming Eight Lives

The Department of Defense (DoD) confirmed that the Air Force helicopter was on a night patrol when the crash occurred.

18 African Countries With The Most Polygamous Marriages

We will explore 18 African countries known for their high prevalence of polygamous marriages, shedding light on the cultural, historical, social, and legal factors that contribute to this unique aspect of African society.