A century after serving as the principal slaving country of the modern world, it appears Britain has yet to find any remorse. She has chosen the cowardly path of aloofness and has continued to act without honour. Lots of fundamental questions have been asked, but none of them have been answered. It is high time Britain came to answer the following questions; Why has Britain not offered any apology for African slavery, as it had done for the Irish potato famine? Till date, why is it that there is no substantial public monument of national contrition equivalent to Berlin’s Holocaust Museum? Most crucially, why is it that there has not been any sort of recognition of how wealth extracted from Africa and Africans made possible the prosperity and vigour of modern Britain? Finally, why has Britain refused to make reparations and pay compensation to the victims of her wicked injustice? The truth remains that, aloofness will not wave these timely questions away, and the earlier Britain starts answering them, the better for it.
It is 2023, and right in the heart of London lies the British Museum, a grand edifice echoing with the whispers of centuries past. In its hallowed corridors, the Elgin Marbles from Greece rub shoulders with the Rosetta Stone from Egypt, the Benin Bronzes from Nigeria, and countless other cultural artifacts from around the globe. These treasures, while undeniably captivating, carry a weighty legacy of colonial exploitation and plunder that was perpetrated against a continent centuries ago.
Shamelessly, Britain has continued to bask in these anomalies while acting like atrocities and heinous crimes against humanity of that magnitude were not committed by her. Rather than offer proper apologies and consolidate genuine reconciliatory moves, they have only continued to sustain efforts aimed at downplaying these historical facts and sweeping them under the carpet. The truth remains that the time has come for Britain to address this contentious issue, particularly concerning African artifacts. She can not conveniently continue to choose cowardice over doing the right thing.
Make no mistake about it, Britain’s colonial past is a tapestry of some semblance of progress and wicked exploitation. While it might have made efforts that helped in bringing about advancements in technology, education, and infrastructure to the African continent, its encroachment into Africa was majorly characterised by an unbridled appropriation of cultural treasures by themselves in very brazen manners. These artifacts, which were evidently procured under highly dubious circumstances that no one can justify without sounding stupid, now adorn British museums, private collections, and even universities in the United Kingdom.
The arguments for returning these stolen artifacts are multifaceted, and they are all morally compelling. Firstly, it concerns the ethics of possession. Britain needs to come out to the world and explain whether the spoils of a colonial past, procured through coercion or outright theft, can be held with a clear conscience. The best attempt Britain has made at these arguments is to argue that these artifacts are better preserved in the climate-controlled, technologically advanced facilities of British institutions. However, to any deep-thinker, this perspective is inherently paternalistic and suggests that African nations cannot adequately curate their cultural heritage, a notion that is simply untrue.
If not for anything, by now, Britain should have come to the realisation that holding onto these artifacts perpetuates a painful narrative of colonial subjugation. Every stolen artifact displayed today in a British museum is a stark reminder of the cultural pillage that occurred under colonial rule. To be succinct, it is a constant, visual signifier of a period of history where power imbalances allowed Britain the opportunity to carry out a systematic looting of Africa’s rich cultural heritage. Does this mean that Britain is proud of these historical abnormalities? Does this in any way show that Britain celebrates the fact that it is profiting from theft?
For many years, Britain has, through her actions and inactions, continued to make efforts to downplay the economic aspects of the looting of these artifacts. However, she must be reminded that the economic aspect of that injustice cannot be overlooked. The reality, which is known to everybody, is that Britain profits immensely from these stolen artifacts. These artifacts attract millions of tourists each year to their country, contributing significantly to the country’s economy. It is not only painful and disheartening, but it is also a disconcerting reality that the treasures of Africa are being used to fuel an economy on another continent. This is certainly not the way to go, and something has to give.
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In perpetrating these acts of injustice, Britain ignored the fact that the artifacts they blatantly stole actually carried deep cultural and spiritual significance for the communities from which they were forcibly taken. These items are certainly not merely historical objects but are a part of the collective memory and identity of these societies and communities. Returning them will, in no small measure, contribute significantly to cultural revival, national pride, and the healing of historical injustices.
It is worthy of note that some steps have been taken towards repatriation by Britain. A few years ago, the University of Aberdeen in Scotland came out to commit to returning a Benin Bronze to Nigeria, with a view of setting a precedent for other institutions to follow. However, that action was only a drop in the ocean, and those piecemeal efforts will not suffice. Britain must be made to understand that what is needed going forward is a comprehensive, nationwide policy on the return of stolen artifacts without heartfelt apologies and compensation packages
Admittedly, the process of repatriation could be complex. It involves legal and logistical challenges, as well as the creation of international partnerships in some instances. However, Britain must be made to understand that these obstacles are not insurmountable, and they must stop using them as excuses. Other countries, such as Germany and France, have begun to navigate this process, setting tangible examples for Britain to follow. Britain must follow these examples for the sake of posterity.
European countries must understand that it is not enough to lampoon Africa and blame the continent’s weak governments for the problems currently bedeviling her. They must come to admit that the fragility of contemporary Africa is a direct consequence of the two centuries of slaving that she and her cohorts unleashed on Africa, which was immediately followed by another century of colonial despotism. European countries must accept these responsibilities and stop deflecting them.
Britain and other imperialists who now pride themselves as saints cannot continue to retain their hold on stolen artifacts and resources and adorn their museums and countries with them while preaching peace and democracy to the descendants of these dehumanised Africans whose humanity they severely attacked.
In conclusion, Britain must cease profiting from Africa’s stolen artifacts and commit to their return. It’s not merely a matter of correcting historical wrongs, but a crucial step in promoting cultural understanding, mutual respect, and global equity. By returning these priceless treasures to their rightful owners, Britain can help create a world where cultural heritage is respected, preserved, and celebrated in its rightful context. It is time for these injustices, which have been allowed to fester for centuries, to end for good.
