In an article entitled Honour Amongst Thieves Guardian columnist Philip Hensher offers an interesting argument in favour of Western nations keeping hold of historical artifacts and national treasures that rightfully belong to African nations. Using Sudan as an example he states that;
In many instances, national treasures are better off outside their countries of origin – better cared for, receiving more attention, and more accessible.
Hensher does note that;
- These items are in fact stolen treasures; and
- Sudan is a war torn country.
Unfortunately, Hensher’s acknowledgment of these two facts make it even more difficult for me to accept his argument.
Having never witnessed a war first hand I may be wrong (but I doubt it) in my assumption that most Africans, when faced with death, would opt to save lives at the expense of a monument. Certainly as an African woman, who values human life above all else, I would make sure that my family members, neighbours and friends were safe before I searched for any heirlooms.
I think it insulting to label us incapable of looking after our own treasures on the grounds that in times of crisis we seek to save our people first. What seems to escape Hensher is that during and after times of war when we fail to label the items in our museum it is not because we do not value them as individual items but because we value our entire history. This history includes the lifeless heirlooms and the people who contributed towards their creation and those who maintain their existence. Irrespective of how valuable these items are; they are worthless without a people, alive, fit and well who can narrate the histories that these artifacts represent.
As for attempting to justify why the West should keep these pilfered goods; what can one say? It is this same warped logic that the colonialists used when they first arrived in Africa. While preaching to us that all are equal in the eyes of the Lord, they forced us to accept that we were inferior to them. Hensher, on the one hand kindly acknowledges that the West has no claim to any of these items but at the same time is forcing me to accept that because he has decided that we are incapable of looking after what is ours, it is in everybody’s interest if they do so on our behalf. We didn’t believe it then and I am certainly not convinced now.
What I would really like to know is where does one draw the line? At present this argument is limited to those items that can be moved but what about those treasures that can not moved? What happens when some Western country decides that we can not care for Mount Kirinyaga and decides to send over some of their people to ensure its maintenance and upkeep? What if they decide that we have incorrectly labeled the mountain and it should in fact be called Mount Kenya?
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Mich says
My argument here would be that surely that’s not his/our decision to make. If other countries are happy for us to ‘host’ their treasures then so be it. In no circumstances can you jusify keeping something that belongs to someone else against their will ‘for their own good’. That argument didn’t make sense then nor does it make sense now.
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JKE says
“they are worthless without a people, alive, fit and well who can narrate the histories that these artifacts represent.”
To me, this is THE arguement with all these material items. On the other hand – what are we (=everyone) supposed to appreciate on anything historical if history repeats all the time and doesn’t teach us anything on how we could shape the present and future?
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spicbear says
it was so wierd to read that there were kenyan artifacts on loan … to kenya. and its strange how they keep going round in circles when it comes to the issue of taking back items to their country of origin. they weren’t taken out for our own good, they aren’t kept out there for our own good. the underlying fact is that it is more beneficial to them and that is that. anything else is just window dressings as far as i am concerned. if he countries decide that the items would be better off abroad then that is fine. but they have no right to say what is best if the countries want their stuff back, it’s like a thief who stole your tv but won’t give it back because you aren’t ready yet. the nerve!
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kipepeo says
And so many people cannot make it to Addis and more can get to Rome, this makes it ok? Did he think about this while he was standing on his head? It still belongs to them! Quit with the thuggery! hm!!
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mshairi says
There is an underlying assumption here that Africans would not be able to look after their national treasures, in war or without. At least this is what I gather from Mr. Hensher’s article. I really don’t want to sound like a Philistine as I love art however; another problem is who decides on the nature of a national treasure i.e. what or who defines this? Is it people like Mr. Hensher or the Sudanese? Will these objects matter 10, 50, 100 etc years from on or will the important thing be peace and prosperity for the Sudanese people. I rest in the knowledge that amongst them are extremely talented artistes who will continue to create ‘national treasurers’ for each generation.
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akiey-5 says
It’s the same dumb logic that some nation uses to ensure that them only them possess nu-ke-lear (as someone calls them) arms bcoz any other nation having them can turn into a rogue state?
National artifacts are called so for the simple reason that they’re “national” or to use a more crude term, “native” to that country & no amount of lying through the teeth can excuse anyone taking them for endless decades for “safe keeping”
“
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akiey-5 says
It’s the same dumb logic that some nation uses to ensure that them only them possess nu-ke-lear (as someone calls them) arms bcoz any other nation having them can turn into a rogue state?
National artifacts are called so for the simple reason that they’re “national” or to use a more crude term, “native” to that country & no amount of lying through the teeth can excuse anyone taking them for endless decades for “safe keeping”
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Betty Bop says
So, I know I’m > a year late but did you hear that the indigenous people of tazmania well, the remnants have just won a case against the brits (museums)?
According to the London Paper or a version the musems planned to carry out or carry on testing amongst other things on aboroginal bones exported to and exhibited in duting the rape of Australia. !!!!!!!! it’s 2007!