Ghana's Looted Asante Gold Comes Home (For Now)

After 150 years, 39 significant artifacts, part of Asante's royal regalia, are set to return to the Asantehene (ruler of the Asante people) in Kumasi, Ghana, during February and April 2024. 

The precious regalia will be displayed in the city of Kumasi, once the capital of the powerful Asante Empire.

The Fowler Museum in Los Angeles and the British Museum, along with the Victoria & Albert Museum in the UK, are "lending" the artifacts to the Asante people for six years. The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) will lend 17 items, while the British Museum will send 15 pieces - with ornaments, jewelry, and talismans among the treasures. This marks a critical milestone as it aligns with anniversaries related to the Sagrenti War, the return of Asantehene Agyeman Prempeh, and the current Asantehene Osei Tutu II's ascension.

The agreement for a temporary loan rather than an outright return is influenced by UK laws governing national museums. The Asante people anticipate that the return of these items will boost cultural heritage, inspire craftsmanship, and significantly increase visitor attendance at the Manhiya Palace Museum, generating revenue for further museum development. The restitution efforts in Ghana may also set a precedent for similar claims from other African countries, writes Rachel Ama Asaa Engmann for The Conversation.

The Asante empire was the largest and most powerful in the region in the 18th century and controlled an area that was rich in gold. Many of the gold royal artifacts were looted by British troops during the third Anglo-Asante War of 1874 (Sagrenti War).