BERLIN –
German officials said on Monday that many priceless artifacts taken from African countries during colonial times would be returned permanently.
Among the artifacts was a seashell statue of the mother goddess Ngonnso’, of great spiritual significance to the Nso’ people of northwestern Cameroon, the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation said.
The statue has been part of the collection of the Ethnographic Museum of Berlin since 1903, after it was “gifted” by a German colonial officer who took it from Nso’ by force.
The foundation said its board recommended the return of the statue after lengthy negotiations between museum representatives and delegations from Cameroon.
The council also approved the permanent return of 23 artifacts, including jewelry, tools and fashion items, to Namibia. The objects, also stolen during the colonial period from 1884 to 1919, were sent to Namibia last month for research purposes and will remain there now.
The foundation said its president was also authorized to sign an agreement on the return of items stolen from Tanzania by Germany during the Maji Maji Uprising and other conflicts during early colonial rule. 20th century.
