Title: Summit in Accra for the restitution of cultural property looted in Africa
Introduction :
From August 22 to 24, 2023, the Open Society Foundation is organizing a summit in Accra, Ghana, to reflect on the restitution of cultural property looted from former African colonies. This meeting brings together nearly 61 personalities from cultural, political and civil society circles, with the participation of the Ghanaian Head of State, Nana Akufo-Addo, and the former President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma. The objective of this summit is to unite artists, academics and traditional chiefdoms to find concrete solutions for the return of religious and cultural heritage to their communities of origin.
The need for restitution of cultural property:
For centuries, many African cultural assets have been looted and are currently in museums and private collections around the world. This situation has sparked intense debates on the need to return these treasures to their countries and communities of origin. The Accra summit is positioned as an essential platform to address this issue and find appropriate solutions.
The creation of a coalition and an African fund to facilitate restitutions:
During the summit, participants will share best practices and take stock of missing pieces. They will also discuss the importance of creating a coalition of artists, academics and traditional chiefdoms for an effective return of looted cultural property. With this in mind, the creation of an African Fund to facilitate restitutions will also be examined. This fund would make it possible to finance the infrastructures necessary to accommodate these cultural goods within African communities.
Political involvement to remove legal and economic barriers:
In addition to cultural actors, the organizers of the summit also hope for strong political involvement. Policies can play a major role in enabling the removal of legal and economic barriers that currently impede restitution. The roadmap initiated by the African Union on the restitution of African heritage must be supported and applied by governments. Concrete actions by political leaders are necessary to give strong impetus to this restitution movement.
Conclusion :
The summit organized in Accra for the restitution of cultural property looted in Africa is an important step towards reconciliation with the colonial past and the enhancement of African cultural heritage. By bringing together key actors from civil society, politics, culture and art, this summit aims to find concrete solutions for the return of looted cultural property to their communities of origin.. This is a unique opportunity to set up a coalition and an African fund that will facilitate restitutions and guarantee the preservation and enhancement of African cultural heritage for future generations