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Asantehene To Receive More Stolen Asante Historic Gold Regalia at Manhyia Palace This Weekend
The gold regalia, originally part of the African Gold Collection of AngloGold Ashanti in South Africa, were acquired following a direct appeal by the Asantehene to the multinational company earlier this year. The company agreed to deaccession the artifacts, which had been housed at the Javett Art Centre at the University of Pretoria after previously being displayed at the Gold of Africa Museum in Cape Town. The transfer was made possible after the Reserve Bank of South Africa approved the export permit three weeks ago.
This weekend, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, will officially receive 28 significant gold ornaments and royal regalia at a mini durbar at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi. These artifacts, crafted in the 19th century by skilled artisans of the Asante Court, are part of an important restitution effort coinciding with two significant events: the centenary celebration of Nana Agyeman Prempeh I’s return from exile in the Seychelles and the visit of Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan.
The gold regalia, originally part of the African Gold Collection of AngloGold Ashanti in South Africa, were acquired following a direct appeal by the Asantehene to the multinational company earlier this year. The company agreed to deaccession the artifacts, which had been housed at the Javett Art Centre at the University of Pretoria after previously being displayed at the Gold of Africa Museum in Cape Town. The transfer was made possible after the Reserve Bank of South Africa approved the export permit three weeks ago.
Ivor Agyeman-Duah, a historian and Associate Director of the Manhyia Palace Museum, authenticated the acquisition. He collaborated with Edward Michael Ennin, a former Member of Parliament for Obuasi and member of AngloGold Ashanti’s Ghana Board.
The collection includes linguist staffs, ceremonial swords, gold palace security locks, and regalia such as rings, necklaces, and crocodile-shaped gold weights. These objects symbolize Asante governance and chieftaincy traditions. Purchased by Swiss art collector Joseph Mueller in 1922, the artifacts later became part of the Barbier-Mueller Museum in Geneva. In 2000, AngloGold Ashanti acquired the Barbier-Mueller Collection, consisting of 350 gold objects that showcased West African craftsmanship.
The current restitution marks a significant cultural milestone. The artifacts will be integrated into a newly established contemporary art gallery at the Manhyia Palace Museum.
An AngloGold Ashanti delegation, led by Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer Stewart Bailey, will formally present the artifacts. Other key members include Senior Vice President for Group Sustainability Baso Sangou, Senior Vice President for Africa Non-Operated Ventures Eric Asuoboteng, and Legal Corporate Affairs Advisor Aviona Mabaso.
Lekgetho Mokola, a former director of the Javett Art Centre and a Yale University fellow, emphasized the importance of the event, stating, “Africa is taking bold steps in reclaiming its cultural heritage, addressing colonial legacies within the continent. This restitution sets a strong precedent for ongoing efforts to recover artifacts from international collections.”
This return brings the total number of restituted or loaned cultural objects received by the Manhyia Palace in 2024 to 67—a record-breaking achievement. Earlier this year, the Fowler Museum at UCLA repatriated seven objects taken during the 1874 Anglo-Asante War, while the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum returned 32 items in March.
Source: GhanaFeed.Com
