Photos Of Crown Jewels Loaned Back To Asanteman After 150 Years

Photos Of Crown Jewels Loaned Back To Asanteman After 150 Years

  • A grand durbar has been held to receive artefacts looted by the British during the third Anglo-Asante war
  • The items are being returned in an agreement between the Victoria & Albert Museum, the British Museum, and the Manhyia Palace museum
  • The items made up of gold and silver will be displayed at the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi later in 2024

Asanteman gathered at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Thursday, February 9, to welcome back some of the Asante artefacts looted 150 years ago by the British with a grand durbar.

Thirty-nine of the Asante royal regalia and objects looted by British troops during the third Anglo-Asante war of 1874 come from the Fowler Museum of the University of California in Los Angeles.

The artefacts, most of which appear to be made of gold, were transported in special cases.

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Asante jewels
Some of the items being loaned back to Ghana for three years. Source: Nippah Dennis
Source: Getty Images
looted asante jewels
The items were received by the asantehene. Source: Nippah Dennis
Source: Getty Images

Present at the event were Chiefs, Queens, and government officials, including Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Speaker Alban Bagbin, former President Agyekum Kufuor, and former President Dramani Mahama.

A second batch of 32 will arrive in April from the British Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum.

The BBC reported that a gold peace pipe is among 32 items being loaned back to Ghana for three years.

The items also include a sword of state and gold badges worn by officials.

There is an option to extend the loan agreement for another three years.

In May 2023, on a visit to the UK, the asantehene told the British Museum to return gold items looted from the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.

At the time, aside from meeting King Charles, he also met the director of the British Museum for discussions on how the items could be returned to Ghana.

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The items being loaned were mostly taken during past wars between the Asante and British during colonial times.

The collections will form part of an exhibition planned to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of the Asantehene.

The return is also to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the 1873-74 Anglo-Asante war and the 100th anniversary of the return of the Asantehene Prempeh I from exile in the Seychelles.

Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park's monthly revenue rises

YEN.com.gh reported that the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park increased its monthly revenues to GH¢1.1 million.

The minister of tourism and creative arts said the park was making GH¢3,000 per month initially.

The park officially reopened commercially on July 11, 2023, after being commissioned by President Akufo-Addo.

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Source: YEN.com.gh

Authors:
Delali Adogla-Bessa avatar

Delali Adogla-Bessa (Current Affairs Editor) Delali Adogla-Bessa is a Current Affairs Editor with YEN.com.gh. Delali previously worked as a freelance journalist in Ghana and has over seven years of experience in media, primarily with Citi FM, Equal Times, Ubuntu Times. Delali also volunteers with the Ghana Institute of Language Literacy and Bible Translation, where he documents efforts to preserve local languages. He graduated from the University of Ghana in 2014 with a BA in Information Studies. Email: delali.adogla-bessa@yen.com.gh.