Belgium Begins Artifact Restoration To Congo With 84,000 Historical Objects

In a bid towards restitution, the AfricaMuseum in Belgium has sent 84,000 artifacts in its inventory to the Democratic Republic of Congo to investigate the items’ provenance and weed out looted cultural objects from the colonial era. 

The move comes a year after the country’s King Philippe expressed “regret” for the “acts of violence and cruelty” the people of Congo were subjected to under Belgian rule, as per Politico. 

According to Artnet News, the research will involve experts from both countries as they attempt to identify the true origins of the artifacts. Those determined to have been shipped to Belgium illegally will then be restored to Congo. 

In total, the project will cost the Belgian government €2 million (US$2.3 million) and will take place over the next four years.

“The handover of the inventory of the AfricaMuseum’s collections to the Congolese Prime Minister is an important step in the implementation of the new approach to restitution,” said Belgian State Secretary for Recovery Program, Thomas Dermine, which was translated from French.

“There are some works of art that have come here because of theft or violence. We should not be afraid to look that history straight in the eye,” said Belgian Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo.

However, not all are happy that the exchange of objects occurred between the heads of the two states.

Sinzo Aanza, a Congolese writer and artist, said that restitution was part of mending “historical injustice,” and that by returning the items to the government, it would “basically continue the work of exploitation of the country, and pursue it awkwardly.” 

Historian Yasmina Zian concurred, asking: “Why is it given to a member of the government, and why is this USB key not on the museum’s website?”

“Why doesn’t the average person have access to these inventories?” she asked.

[via Politico and Artnet News, cover image via KingBaudoin / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)]