I’ve never really understood this whole thing. There isn’t a vocal group saying we should keep all this stuff, I’ve never heard anyone arguing to keep it, even on the Daily Nail comments section. Why did the government put a law into place to stop museums giving stuff back? No one was asking for it.
As much of the stuff is in pit rivers Oxford. IE outside the m25.
And that is likely the why. Much of the stuff was taken by guys like pitt rivers. Who built a lot of family wealth on the campaigns. And the government is still protecting those interests.
While I’m pro giving it back, the article makes a good point about the Benin Bronzes being kept privately in the palace with no plan of them ever being displayed and refusing to even speak to existing museums. It’s very sad.
It must be very difficult for the previous holders to know they are basically in some rich blokes bedroom now.
If i missed a few stupid typo correction. Sorry visually impaired so while I try to reread and catch them all. It can be a nightmare when I make a typo autocorrect replaces with something wierd. Ashanti to Asian tiger seems to be a fav here
The whole thing was a mess. And well we brits have a pretty arrogant establishment.
But here is a story that made me smile when I learned it during some research into the history of the UK Ashamti wars.
When our ancestors finally defeated the Ashanti in 1896. They demanded the golden stool. As a punishment for the defiance of the Ashanti. As the stool was a very important part of the tribes identity. And according to history. It was given over by Queen Yaa Asentwaa (True bad arse worrior Queen who lead and motivated the final rebellion of the tribe. Seriosely read up on her she is inspiring) gave over the stool before being banished from Ghana by the brits.
And we have been holding it in British museums ever since.
But sometime around the 1970s. When our (young at the time) Queen visited the nation. It was discovered we were given a fake. Queen Yaa Asentwaa had given the British soldiers one more FU after admitting defeat. And the rullers of the Ashati Tribe in Kumasi ( city in Ghana still rulled by the Ashanti Asantehene(king) till this day (the status of the city and King is built into their constution). Has been using the real golden stool as their traditional laws requires for all formal ceremonies since 1896.
As someone who has always had an interest in the region (long still close relationship with Nigerian ex gf). And have always been a bit pissed about the arrogance of many actions of our nation during that time.
I find the effectivness and ease that the British commanters had the wool pulled over there eyes. Hilarious.
When you add the final war of 1896. Was after almost 100 years of the brits regularly starting wars trying and out right failing to beat the Ashati into submission. The tribe being a constant thorn in our ability to rule what we called the gold Coast and managing to remain independent of the British for all that time plus the Portuguese and Spanish who several times tried to controll the area from the mid 1700s.
The history of the Ashati empire really is fun to read about.
I’ve never really understood this whole thing. There isn’t a vocal group saying we should keep all this stuff, I’ve never heard anyone arguing to keep it, even on the Daily Nail comments section. Why did the government put a law into place to stop museums giving stuff back? No one was asking for it.
Because old people don’t want to have to travel past the M25 to see history stuff.
It’s always the old people. Always.
You beat me to it and in a much more eloquent way.
They are pretty screwed then.
As much of the stuff is in pit rivers Oxford. IE outside the m25.
And that is likely the why. Much of the stuff was taken by guys like pitt rivers. Who built a lot of family wealth on the campaigns. And the government is still protecting those interests.
While I’m pro giving it back, the article makes a good point about the Benin Bronzes being kept privately in the palace with no plan of them ever being displayed and refusing to even speak to existing museums. It’s very sad.
It must be very difficult for the previous holders to know they are basically in some rich blokes bedroom now.
If i missed a few stupid typo correction. Sorry visually impaired so while I try to reread and catch them all. It can be a nightmare when I make a typo autocorrect replaces with something wierd. Ashanti to Asian tiger seems to be a fav here
The whole thing was a mess. And well we brits have a pretty arrogant establishment.
But here is a story that made me smile when I learned it during some research into the history of the UK Ashamti wars.
When our ancestors finally defeated the Ashanti in 1896. They demanded the golden stool. As a punishment for the defiance of the Ashanti. As the stool was a very important part of the tribes identity. And according to history. It was given over by Queen Yaa Asentwaa (True bad arse worrior Queen who lead and motivated the final rebellion of the tribe. Seriosely read up on her she is inspiring) gave over the stool before being banished from Ghana by the brits.
And we have been holding it in British museums ever since.
But sometime around the 1970s. When our (young at the time) Queen visited the nation. It was discovered we were given a fake. Queen Yaa Asentwaa had given the British soldiers one more FU after admitting defeat. And the rullers of the Ashati Tribe in Kumasi ( city in Ghana still rulled by the Ashanti Asantehene(king) till this day (the status of the city and King is built into their constution). Has been using the real golden stool as their traditional laws requires for all formal ceremonies since 1896.
As someone who has always had an interest in the region (long still close relationship with Nigerian ex gf). And have always been a bit pissed about the arrogance of many actions of our nation during that time.
I find the effectivness and ease that the British commanters had the wool pulled over there eyes. Hilarious.
When you add the final war of 1896. Was after almost 100 years of the brits regularly starting wars trying and out right failing to beat the Ashati into submission. The tribe being a constant thorn in our ability to rule what we called the gold Coast and managing to remain independent of the British for all that time plus the Portuguese and Spanish who several times tried to controll the area from the mid 1700s.
The history of the Ashati empire really is fun to read about.