90,000 African objects' origins studied by French museums for potential repatriation, following Macron's 2017 pledge.

French museums are studying the origins of 90,000 African objects in their archives, as curators face a challenging task to identify and return plundered artworks during the 19th and 20th centuries colonial rule. In 2017, President Macron pledged to return African heritage to Africa, inspiring similar initiatives in Belgium and Germany. In 2021, France repatriated 26 royal treasures taken from Benin during colonial rule, but the process has been stalled due to right-wing resistance in the Senate.

April 16, 2024
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