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France solemnly returns 26 looted treasures in Benin

2021-11-09T03:25:31.344Z


Emmanuel Macron will receive his Beninese counterpart Patrice Talon on Tuesday to finalize the restitution of these 26 treasures preserved so far at the Parisian museum of Quai Branly, and which will reach Benin on Wednesday.


France solemnly returns Tuesday, November 9 to Benin 26 works of the royal treasures of Abomey looted in the 19th century by colonial troops, a

"historic moment of national pride"

for the Beninese authorities.

French President Emmanuel Macron will receive his Beninese counterpart Patrice Talon in the morning to finalize the restitution of these 26 treasures preserved so far at the Parisian museum of Quai Branly, and which will reach Benin on Wednesday.

The Ministers of Culture of the two countries, Roselyne Bachelot and Jean-Michel Abimbola, will sign the deed of transfer of ownership from France to Benin, allowing the works to return to their country after nearly 130 years of absence.

To read also Emmanuel Macron assures that the restitutions of African heritage will not be the "deed of the prince"

This solemn ceremony marks the last stage of an unprecedented process initiated with the promise made in 2017 by Emmanuel Macron to proceed with restitutions of African heritage in France.

"It is a historic moment of national pride"

, declared Michel Abimbola a few days ago on Beninese television.

“Granted, it's only 26 works out of the thousands, but we're starting something that can't stop,”

he said.

"We have primed the pump and do not despair of recovering other works"

in Germany, Great Britain, the United States ... This initiative is

"an important marker for building a new relationship and a new perspective between France and the African continent ”

, welcomed the Elysee.

At the height of my 72 years, I can die in peace, once I see them.

"

A dignitary and head of the community Dah Adohouannon

Among the restored works are totem statues from the ancient kingdom of Abomey as well as the throne of King Béhanzin, looted during the sacking of the Abomey Palace by French colonial troops in 1892. These treasures will be returned aboard the ship. 'a plane with Patrice Talon and their arrival will be celebrated on Wednesday in Cotonou, where they are awaited with emotion.

“I shudder at the idea of ​​taking a closer look at these royal treasures, especially the thrones of our ancestors. It is unimaginable ”

, thus entrusted to AFP in Cotonou a dignitary and head of community Dah Adohouannon.

"From the height of my 72 years, I can die in peace, once I see them,"

he added.

The works will be subjected to two months of

“acclimatization”

to the new climate and humidity conditions, before being exhibited for three months at the Beninese presidency.

"It is obvious that there will be a rush because everyone will want to see them very quickly and soon enough"

, predicts a student, Henriette Béhannzin, who hopes that the visits will not be reserved for the privileged,

"because this are treasures to all of us ”

.

The treasures will then go to the old Portuguese fort of Ouidah and the governor's house, historic sites of slavery and European colonization, located on the coast, pending the construction of a new museum in Abomey.

85 to 90% of African heritage outside the continent

During his speech in Ouagadougou in November 2017, Emmanuel Macron pledged to make temporary or permanent restitution of African heritage in France possible within five years.

Based on a report submitted by Senegalese and French academics Felwine Sarr and Bénédicte Savoy, he decided to return 26 works requested by the authorities in Benin.

A law passed in December 2020 made these restitutions possible in Benin by allowing exceptions to the principle of

“inalienability”

of works in public collections, because they had been the subject of marked looting.

Read also Before their return to Benin, royal treasures from Abomey on display at the Quai Branly museum

Before being returned, the 26 works were shown together one last time at the Parisian museum of Quai Branly, seen by

"15,000 people in seven days"

.

According to experts, 85 to 90% of African heritage is outside the continent.

Since 2019, in addition to Benin, six countries - Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Chad, Mali, Madagascar - have submitted restitution requests.

Paris must soon return to Côte d'Ivoire the Djidji Ayokwe, famous drum speaker of the Ebriés, long claimed by Abidjan.

The restitution of works of art looted from Africa is one of the salient points of the

“new relationship”

that the French Head of State intends to forge with the continent.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2021-11-09

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