Restitution des œuvres à l'Afrique : où en est-on ? | Géopoliticus | Lumni

More episodes of Geopoliticus 👉 https://bit.ly/Geopoliticus Subscribe! 👉 http://bit.ly/2QLeh5V #Geopolitics #Africa #Education In the 19th and 20th centuries, thousands of cultural artifacts were acquired through coercion and violence in Africa by colonial powers. A report submitted to the Élysée Palace in 2018 on "the restitution of African heritage" estimates that 90% of sub-Saharan cultural heritage is now scattered outside the continent. The restitution of these works of art by France is a major geopolitical issue. It currently concerns primarily sub-Saharan territories. Art objects stolen during colonization At least 90,000 works of art from sub-Saharan Africa are held in French public collections. More than two-thirds remain at the Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac Museum in Paris. The vast majority of the pieces come from territories colonized by France, such as Cameroon, Togo, Benin, Mali, Senegal, and Burkina Faso. The restitution of these works of art is now being demanded by several African countries, experts, researchers, and activists. Indeed, African citizens are deprived of access to these essential elements of their culture, history, and memory. The restitution of these works could allow France to improve its image in Africa. It also offers the possibility of breaking with "Françafrique," a term that refers to a neo-colonial relationship between France and its former colonies. A law to return works of art to African countries France is taking its first steps in the restitution of works of art. It is a difficult process because many museums and collectors are reluctant to return them. Why? Several reasons are put forward: The most common is that the countries requesting restitution do not possess the necessary infrastructure to preserve these objects. Furthermore, returning them would cause a financial loss, as they represent a significant economic resource for museums. Another reason cited is that some collectors and museums rely on the law. The French Heritage Code states that the cultural property of French museums is inalienable and cannot be transferred. To address this argument, a law passed in 2020 now authorizes the restitution of a number of works to Senegal and Benin. This law thus allowed France to return the sword of El Hadj Omar Tall to the Republic of Senegal. On November 9, 2021, 26 works from the royal treasures of Abomey, held at the Quai Branly Museum in Paris, were returned to Benin. And an agreement between France and Madagascar allowed, in November 2020, the return of Queen Ranavalona III's crown to Antananarivo. While the report submitted to the Élysée Palace in 2018 currently focuses specifically on former French sub-Saharan colonies, North African territories, particularly Algeria and Morocco, are also demanding the return of cultural artifacts. These requests are multiplying and are not limited to France. The movement has spread to Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.