Across museums in Europe and elsewhere are African treasures whose journeys out of the continent are closely tied to colonial conquest, military campaigns and unequal power relationships. Today, some of these objects are at the centre of a growing restitution debate: should they remain in foreign museums, return permanently to their countries of origin, or be shared through long-term loans and partnerships?

The debate is not about every African object held abroad. Some were purchased legitimately, donated or acquired through circumstances that remain unclear. But others have well-documented histories of being taken during military campaigns.

The Benin Bronzes

The Benin Bronzes are among the best-known examples. Created by skilled artists for the royal court of the Kingdom of Benin, in present-day Nigeria, the collection includes plaques, sculptures, ceremonial objects and royal regalia.

British forces attacked Benin City in 1897, and large numbers of objects were taken from the royal palace. They were subsequently dispersed among museums, collectors and dealers around the world.

The restitution debate has produced concrete results. In February 2026, the University of Cambridge transferred legal ownership of 116 Benin objects to Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments. Physical arrangements for returning most of the objects are being made.

Switzerland also returned 18 Benin artefacts to Nigeria in June 2026 following provenance research into objects held by Swiss museums.

However, restitution is not happening everywhere at the same pace. Major European museums continue to hold significant Benin collections, making the issue an ongoing international debate.

Asante Gold from Ghana

Ghana's Asante royal regalia provides another important example.

The Victoria and Albert Museum says 17 pieces of Asante gold entered its collection in 1874 after British troops raided Kumasi during the Anglo-Asante Wars. The museum acknowledges that modern approaches to objects acquired during conflict are very different from those of the 19th century.

In 2024, selected Asante regalia from the V&A and British Museum were displayed at the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi under a loan arrangement. The objects returned physically to Ghana, but the arrangement did not amount to permanent transfer of ownership.

Ethiopia's Maqdala Treasures

Ethiopia's Maqdala treasures have another well-documented colonial-era history.

In 1868, British forces attacked Emperor Tewodros II's fortress at Maqdala. After the battle, soldiers removed large quantities of Ethiopian manuscripts, religious objects and other treasures. The Victoria and Albert Museum says many objects from the expedition eventually entered British collections.

Among the objects now held by the V&A are a gold crown and chalice associated with Maqdala. Ethiopian manuscripts from the same episode are also held in British collections.

The story is complicated because some objects had themselves been moved within Ethiopia before the British expedition.

Why the Debate Matters

For many Africans, seeing these objects in museums thousands of kilometres from where they were made raises a simple question: why are they still there?

These objects are tied to kingdoms, rulers, ceremonies and communities whose histories are still very much alive.

But sending an object back is only part of the conversation. There are still difficult questions about who should receive it, where it should be kept and how it should be made available to the public. Some museums have chosen permanent returns, while others have gone for long-term loans.

What is clear is that the old idea of simply keeping an object because it has been in a European museum for more than a century is being challenged. African governments, museums and communities are asking for a greater say over objects that came from their own history.

And that is probably why the restitution debate is not going away anytime soon.