Asantehene Delivers a Lecture today at British Museum

The Monarch of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, is scheduled for a lecture today, July 19, 2024, at the British Museum, one of the two museums that lent back a few looted Asante artefacts in their possession in the United Kingdom (UK).

The lecture is part of an evolving cooperation in international cultures, mutual technical and business development, said a statement released in April by Mr Ivor Agyeman-Duah, the representative of Manhyia Palace in the negotiation for the return of stolen Asante artefacts during the Sagrenti War.

“The Asantehene would also give a major public lecture on Asante Culture and Heritage- Past and Present on the platform of the BM in London in July 2024.”

Introducing the event would be the President of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, Mr Kwame Anthony Appiah who is world leading Anglo-Ghanaian philosopher of New York University and the Laurance S. Rockefeller Emeritus University Professor of Philosophy at Princeton University.

It is the King’s first international lecture this year.

Ahead of this, Otumfuo visited the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum which also houses some artefacts belonging to the Asantes on July 18, 2024, to hold discussions with its Management.

Quest for More
The King by this lecture and visit to the V&A seeks to acquire more of his bona fide properties in the possession of these two Museums.

He made this publicly known during a courtesy call by the American Consul General in Ghana, Elliot Fertik on June 21, 2024.

Otumfuo said he is going to push for more to be released.

“I have received some items from America. Interestingly, that was given to me forever. But the one I got from Britain is not. After three years it is subject to renewal for another three years. Can you imagine my own items that were looted from here but we had to agree for my people to know the spirit is back.”

He continued, “It is the soul of the people and I’m glad we’ve gotten it back. I will be giving a lecture in July at the British Museum and I’m looking forward to attracting more of the artefacts. But we will display it for the next three years and renew it for another three years.”

Returned Artefacts
The British Museum and the V&A Museum have returned 15 and 17 treasures respectively of the looted goods; however, on a loan deal.
The deal is effective for three years and renewable for another three years.

The British Museum Act 1963 prohibits museums from removing an artefact from its collections unless it is a duplicate, damaged or unfit.

The artefacts were stolen by the British during the 1874 Sagrenti and subsequent wars.

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