From the 22nd to the 24th of August 2023, Accra takes center stage as the Open Society Foundation orchestrates a momentous summit aimed at contemplation and discourse on the restitution of cultural artifacts pillaged from former colonies. With a clarion call to “forge a coalition to effectively return cultural and heritage treasures to their rightful communities,” the event has garnered attention and anticipation from art critics, political figures, and civil society actors alike.
Spanning three days in Accra, an assembly of 61 luminaries from the realms of culture, politics, and civil society across the continent convenes under the auspices of the Open Society Foundation. This symposium, graced by political stalwarts including Ghana’s Head of State, Nana Akufo-Addo, and former Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma, seeks to stimulate a robust exchange within the pan-African political, intellectual, and cultural community concerning the vital matter of restoring Africa’s cultural heritage.
At its core, the summit endeavors to unite artists, academics, and traditional leadership to cultivate a harmonious vision for the restitution of the continent’s cherished artifacts. As art critic Franck Hermann Ekra aptly notes, “Restitution is too grave a matter to be left solely to states”. He further elaborates, “The objective is to forge a coalition that can effectively facilitate the return of cultural and heritage treasures to their rightful communities”.
The participants’ agenda extends beyond dialogue, encompassing the exchange of best practices, the creation of an inventory of missing artifacts, the deliberation over suitable infrastructures to house these precious relics, and a contemplation of establishing an African Fund to expedite the restitution process.
Additionally, the organizers hold high hopes for tangible actions on the part of political leaders. Dr. Ibrahima Niang, the head of the Global Initiative for African Heritage Restitution within the Open Society Foundation, underlines the potential for politicians to dismantle legal and economic barriers that hinder certain restitution efforts. He emphasizes the importance of “realistically reflecting upon ways to support the common African stance,” referring to the roadmap pioneered by the African Union—an initiative that, while adopted, has seen limited implementation by governing bodies.
As Accra hosts this pivotal summit, the world watches with keen interest. It is a gathering that transcends regional borders, reaching across history and continents to address an issue of immense cultural significance. The outcomes of this gathering are poised to reverberate through diplomatic corridors, artistic circles, and civil society platforms, offering the promise of collaborative progress and, potentially, a significant step towards the restitution of Africa’s cultural heritage.