Cultural and spiritual artifacts of Africa stolen by colonising countries

What are artifacts?

Artifacts are works of art that are inspired by people’s religion, philosophy and culture. In fact, artifacts are culture, philosophy and religion. Africa developed many artifacts along the years, and continues to do so today.

The role of Christianity and Islam in cultural colonisation and artifacts theft

When Abrahamic religion preachers of the Christian and Islamic faith came to Africa, and colonised its religion, they called these artifacts pagan, yet, they took them to their countries, and thousands of these artifacts were sold to individuals, corporates or put in museums.

Hundreds of African artifacts hidden from Africans

• 70,000 artifacts are at Musee du Quai Branly in France,
• 69,000 are at the British Museum
• 37,000 artifacts are at the Weltmuseum in Austria
• 75,000 artifacts are at the Future Humboldt Forum in Germany/Germany’s Ethnological Museum
• 180,000 at the Musee Royal de l’Afrique Centrale in Belgium
• Netherlands’ National Museum of World Cultures has 66,000
• about 50,000 in United States of America
• Many artifacts in Arab countries outside Africa
• Thousands are in private hands globally but mostly in Europe

Only a few hundreds have been returned. At one point, France promised to return only 26! Nigeria, Benin City received only 2 statues at one time. This is gross hypocrisy and paternalism.

Abrahamic artifacts were introduced to replace African artifacts

While these artifacts were taken, Abrahamic artifacts were introduced, and these include:

• The cross
• Artifacts depicting Mary
• Artifacts depicting Jesus
• Artifacts depicting the bible
• Candles
• Figures of angels
• Artifacts of Islam

These artifacts promote the cultures, religions and philosophies of the source countries, and contribute to the colonisation of Africa.

What could social workers around the world do to address this form of injustice

1. The stealing and refusal to return the artifacts is a major social justice issue which often, social workers neglect to focus on issues of less importance to colonised nations. Often social workers from the west write or lobby Africa to adopt ‘rights’ that they choose, but they are silent when it comes to historical injustices, cultural and spiritual rights. Social justice in social work can not be achieved by neglecting older injustices.
2. Some social workers in western and middle-eastern countries see these artefacts, with their families in museums, and even have some at their places of work or at home. It would be helpful, if they join the collective lobbying for the return of these artifacts.
3. Global social work organisations, among them the IFSW and IASSW, should also be joining this kind of lobbying, in the same manner they respond to injustices in other regions of the world. Work may have been done previously, but a continuous process of lobbying is desirable, not only for Africa but many other cultures whose works of art was stolen and not yet returned.
4. There are many African social workers who are now working in colonising countries, and would be beneficial if they join movements or even form some, to lobby for the return of stolen property.
5. Africa’s social workers, wherever they are, should be defending the return of the artifacts, and challenge colonial thinking that Africa is unable to keep its own artifacts, therefore, it should not have access to its own artifacts – a denial of its tangible culture, philosophy, heritage and spirituality.

Further reading

Who are Westerners guarding African artifacts from – Africans themselves? They are denying Africans from their culture and religion for their own and economic benefits enjoyment but they in turn say African’s religion and culture is bad. The solution – all artifacts from public and private places must be returned.