This Tuesday is a historic day for the Beninese authorities to whom France solemnly restores 26 works of the royal treasures of Abomey looted in the 19th century by colonial troops, a “historic moment of national pride” for the Beninese authorities. Among the restored works are totem statues from the former kingdom of Abomey as well as the throne of King Béhanzin, looted during the sacking of the Abomey palace by French colonial troops in 1892. These treasures will be returned aboard the ship. ‘a plane with Patrice Talon and their arrival will be celebrated on Wednesday in Cotonou, where they are awaited with emotion.
This solemn ceremony marks the last stage of an unprecedented process initiated with the promise made in 2017 by Emmanuel Macron to proceed with restitutions of African heritage in France. “It is a historic moment of national pride”, declared Michel Abimbola a few days ago on Beninese television. “Certainly, these are only 26 works out of thousands, but we are starting something that can no longer stop”, he said. “We have primed the pump and do not despair of recovering other works” in Germany, Great Britain, the United States … This initiative is “An important marker for the construction of a new relationship and a new perspective between France and the African continent”, welcomed the Elysee.
Restitution of works in Benin: return to a historical first
Before being returned, the 26 works were shown together one last time at the Parisian museum of Quai Branly, seen by “15,000 people in seven days”.
According to experts, 85 to 90% of African heritage is outside the continent. Since 2019, in addition to Benin, six countries – Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Chad, Mali, Madagascar – have submitted restitution requests. Paris must soon return to Côte d’Ivoire the Djidji Ayokwe, famous drum speaker of the Ebriés, long claimed by Abidjan. The restitution of works of art looted from Africa is one of the highlights of the “new relationship” that the French head of state intends to forge with the continent.