United Kingdom: the British Museum targeted by an investigation into Ethiopian sacred objects
The British Museum, one of the largest British cultural institutions, is the subject of investigation by the communications watchdog. The museum is said to have concealed information around ten sacred tablets, looted in Ethiopia during colonization. Addis Ababa is demanding the return of these objects.
Bronze plaques from Benin City in the British Museum. (Illustrative image) Public domain
By: RFI Follow
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With our correspondent in London,
Émeline Vin
The dozen “tabots” – replicas of the Ark of the Covenant sacred in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church – have never been exhibited by the British Museum, nor studied, nor even photographed. Only members of the Ethiopian clergy can enter the room where the tabots belonging to the so-called Magdala collection are kept, sacred objects looted by British colonial troops in the 19th century.
Generally, the British Parliament must approve the return of cultural objects, but museums can return them on their own in certain circumstances. Which apply in the case of tabots, according to a group of jurists.
The NGO Returning Heritage, which maintains a blog on cultural restitutions around the world, is therefore demanding that the British Museum justify its retention of the Magdala tablets but the museum has only responded partially, explaining its obliterations by desire to preserve “
certain international relations
”.
The British communications watchdog must now decide on the legitimacy of this redaction.
Read alsoRestitution of African works of art: the embarrassing British heritage
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