By RFIPosted on 17-11-2019Modified on 17-11-2019 at 07:36

Visiting Dakar, Édouard Philippe, the French Prime Minister returns this Sunday to President Macky Sall the sword of a marabout and resistant Senegalese nineteenth century, so far exposed to the museum of Invalides in Paris. In 2017, Emmanuel Macron pledged to return the works plundered by France to its former colonies.

The blade and the scabbard of El Hadj Omar Tall's saber , religious leader defeated by the French in 1893, are already in the reserves of the Museum of Black Civilizations of Dakar. Hamady Bocoum, the director of the museum contemplates the sword, new brilliant jewel in the spotlight of his future showroom: " The saber of El Hadj Omar, this is the third time we are ready. This is the third time France has lent us what belongs to us, he says. And in the report of Felwine Sarr and Bénédicte Savoy , it was said that the saber of El Hadj Omar was among the objects that had to be restored right away. Of course, we are happy this time it is a trip without return. "

► See also: Sarr-Savoy Report: "Restoring heritage means restoring a story, a pride"

The object is mythical. A symbol of the struggle against French colonization brought back in 1894 by Colonel Louis Archinard during a campaign against the son of the fighter. " In terms of resistance, it is someone who represents a lot, says Aimé Kantoussan, director of research of the museum. And I think that when young people come to the museum and they see the saber of El Hadj Omar exposed, it is already a pride. Knowing that the history of El Hadj Omar is much taught in our schools. "

Legal uncertainty

" It is the symbol of a new unity that makes cultural reconciliation between France and the states concerned will consolidate further, " said El Hadji Ibrahima Ndao, professor and historian. Because going to the Louvre museum or going to the musée du Quai Branly and seeing there objects that obviously do not come from France, but from our societies or our countries, it creates a certain discomfort, even if we do not do not say it. "

But around this historical restitution remains a legal vagueness: it is for the moment a five-year loan to Senegal. To definitively make the sword, the last word goes to the French deputies who will have to pass a law.

    On the same subject

    Can Africa welcome its restored works of art?

    Journey of the worlds: ancient African arts and restitution

    Restitution of works of art in Benin: France goes one step further

    Cultural goods: the Savoy-Sarr report mentions definitive restitutions

    Sarr-Savoy report: "Restoring heritage means restoring a story, a pride"

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