African Art Restitution Explained: Why the Return of Masks and Bronzes Matters
African art restitution is about more than objects. See what has been returned, what is still held, and why it matters for communities.
-
-
Cultural Heritage Sponsorship for Companies: What a Fair Partnership Looks Like
Cultural heritage sponsorship works when communities keep ownership. See what a fair partnership looks like and what companies should ask.
-
The Hemba So’o Mask at Auction: What the Catalogue Does Not Tell You
The catalogue photograph is perfect. Soft studio light. A dark background. A face that is half human and half chimpanzee, with a wide crescent mouth stretched almost from ear to ear. Underneath, a short paragraph, an estimate, and a list of previous owners. What you do not see is the funeral. The Hemba So’o mask…
-
Digitizing African Cultural Heritage: How Companies Can Fund It Without Taking It
An old man sits on a bench outside his compound. He is the last person in his village who knows the full praise poem of his lineage. It takes him almost an hour to recite. Nobody has recorded it. When he goes, it goes with him. Now think of a mask carved by his grandfather….
-
The Benin Bronzes: A Timeline of What Has Been Returned and What Still Is Not
See which Benin Bronzes have been returned to Nigeria since 2021, which museums still hold them, and what is left to bring home.
-
Bringing African Masks Home: Inside Africa’s Campaign to Reclaim Looted Heritage
In 1977, Nigeria asked the British Museum for one thing. Let the ivory mask of Queen Idia travel home, just for a festival, just for a few weeks. The answer was no. That mask, carved for a queen mother of the Benin Kingdom, became the emblem of FESTAC 77 anyway, printed on posters and currency…
-
Silencing the Guns Initiative | How to make the Pledge for Peace
The Silencing the Guns Initiative, launched by the African Union (AU), is an ambitious program aiming to achieve a conflict-free Africa by 2030. It’s a central pillar of the AU’s Agenda 2063, a broader vision for the continent’s development. Here’s a breakdown of its key aspects: Goals: End all wars and armed conflicts: This…
