Restitution of works in Benin: the deed of transfer of ownership signed this morning at the Élysée
The Beninese and French presidents, Patrice Talon and Emmanuel Macron, at the Élysée Palace, Paris, November 9, 2021. REUTERS - SARAH MEYSSONNIER
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
It is the culmination of a process initiated four years ago by the French president.
Twenty-six works belonging to the royal treasures of Abomey will take off, this Tuesday, November 9, 2021, for Benin, from where they had been looted in 1892. The deed of transfer of ownership was signed this Tuesday morning at the Élysée by the Beninese and French Ministers of Culture, in the presence of Presidents Talon and Macron.
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With our special correspondent at the Élysée
,
Sylvie Koffi
It is a very official and very solemn ceremony, held to the sound of the Republican Guard and in the presence of the two heads of state.
The President of the Republic of Benin
spoke at the end of this historic ceremony of signing the deed of transfer of property: "
It is our soul that returns, these are twenty-six royal works, much more than objects. It is part of our deep genetic heritage
. "
A very moved president, very smiling too, very proud. “
I hoped, despaired and prayed to the ancestors
. "A president, too, who did not mince his words and who asked without taboo the return of other works:"
Mr. President, agree with me that
the restitution of 26 works
that we are consecrating today does not is only one step in the ambitious process of equity and restitution of the memorial heritage extorted in the past from the kingdom of the territory of Benin by France.
Mr. President, it is regrettable that this yet appreciable act of restitution is not capable of giving us complete satisfaction. Indeed, how can you expect that when I left here with the 26 works my enthusiasm was total while the god Gou, emblematic work representing the god of metals and the forge, the tablet of the Fa, mythical work of divination famous diviner Guédégbé, and many others, continue to be detained here in France to the chagrin of their beneficiaries
.
"
"
The hope
, he concluded,
is now allowed.
It is an unprecedented first step in this process of restitution and repair
.
"
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26 works from the royal treasures of Abomey return to Benin.
Follow the statement of the President @EmmanuelMacron and the President of Benin @ PatriceTalonPR.https: //t.co/qi4j2uNdwy
- Élysée (@Elysee) November 9, 2021
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