The UK has agreed to loan back a collection of Asante Gold to Ghana, which was looted over 100 years ago. The Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) will lend 17 items, and the British Museum will send 15 pieces under three-year loan deals, with an option to extend.

The items, including a sword of state, gold badges, and a gold peace pipe, will be displayed at the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi to celebrate the Asantehene’s silver jubilee. The loan agreements are not with the Ghanaian government but with Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the current Asante King, known as the Asantehene. The UK museums have many more items taken from Ghana, including a gold trophy head that is among the most famous pieces of Asante regalia.

The items to be loaned were mostly taken during wars in the 19th century between the UK and the Asante, including the Anglo-Asante wars. Some of the items formed part of a British indemnity payment forcibly extracted from the Asantehene, while many others were sold at auction and later dispersed among museums and private collectors.

The loan has sparked discussions about the looting and the cultural significance of the items. A representative of the Ghanaian government stated that the items have spiritual importance and are part of the soul of the nation. Described as “a good starting point“, the local authorities look forward to reaching similar agreements in the future, considering that British museums hold many more items taken from Ghana.

The loan is not a permanent return of ownership to Ghana, and it has raised questions about the broader issue of repatriation of looted cultural artifacts. Quoted by the press, Tristram Hunt, director of the V&A, mentioned that the loan is part of a new cultural partnership and “is not restitution by the back door.” The loan has been described as a step towards cultural cooperation, but it has also been met with some criticism, with concerns about the terms of the agreement and the broader context of colonial looting.