THEY FINALLY LISTENED AND THE AUCTION HOUSES ARE BACKING DOWN ON THESE LOOTED TREASURES!! WE WON AND OUR COLLECTIVE PRESSURE FORCED THE NECESSARY CHANGE!! STAY VIGILANT BECAUSE WE MUST ENSURE THIS POLICY STAYS IN PLACE FOREVER!!
August 1, 2020
Final supporters
This petition has been created to build on a recent petition to stop an auction house, Sotheby's from selling a 16th Century Benin Mask. The petition was a success in as much as the auction house concerned cancelled the sale.
However, the wider issue of selling, exhibiting and dealing in looted stolen African artefacts remains largely unresolved.
As Professor Ogbechie, an art historian stated recently "The estimated value of stolen African cultural patrimony in Western museums and private collections is worth several billions of dollars. This rises considerably if the economic benefit of holding stolen African cultural patrimony is factored into the discussion, i.e. the boost in tourism from viewing these artworks for instance, as well as the economic value from their sale, insurance, exhibition, publication and collection".
An appeal is therefore being made to you to help push for the recognition of the claims of Africans to thier cutural heritage. By creating this online petition we hope that each signatory will:
1) Send a clear message to auction houses, art dealers and collectors to stop profiteering from stolen African artefacts and to recognise the claims of Africans to thier cultural heritage.
2) Strengthen the hand of legal suits being brought forward to recover these looted items.
6 Comments
If it was stolen it should be returned simple as that. Keep fighting this.
Returning these items to their rightful home is the only decent thing to do. History isnt just for western museums to lock away.
So much of our culture is sitting in boxes in foreign countries while we are told we cant have it back. Its theft plain and simple.
The auction houses dont seem to care about where these masks came from as long as the money is right. Ridiculous.
ABOUT TIME. Stop selling our history for a quick buck.
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THEY FINALLY LISTENED AND THE AUCTION HOUSES ARE BACKING DOWN ON THESE LOOTED TREASURES!! WE WON AND OUR COLLECTIVE PRESSURE FORCED THE NECESSARY CHANGE!! STAY VIGILANT BECAUSE WE MUST ENSURE THIS POLICY STAYS IN PLACE FOREVER!!
August 1, 2020
Final supporters
This petition has been created to build on a recent petition to stop an auction house, Sotheby's from selling a 16th Century Benin Mask. The petition was a success in as much as the auction house concerned cancelled the sale.
However, the wider issue of selling, exhibiting and dealing in looted stolen African artefacts remains largely unresolved.
As Professor Ogbechie, an art historian stated recently "The estimated value of stolen African cultural patrimony in Western museums and private collections is worth several billions of dollars. This rises considerably if the economic benefit of holding stolen African cultural patrimony is factored into the discussion, i.e. the boost in tourism from viewing these artworks for instance, as well as the economic value from their sale, insurance, exhibition, publication and collection".
An appeal is therefore being made to you to help push for the recognition of the claims of Africans to thier cutural heritage. By creating this online petition we hope that each signatory will:
1) Send a clear message to auction houses, art dealers and collectors to stop profiteering from stolen African artefacts and to recognise the claims of Africans to thier cultural heritage.
2) Strengthen the hand of legal suits being brought forward to recover these looted items.
6 Comments
These pieces belong back with their people. Museums should be ashamed of profiting off stuff that was clearly stolen during colonial times.
If it was stolen it should be returned simple as that. Keep fighting this.
Returning these items to their rightful home is the only decent thing to do. History isnt just for western museums to lock away.
So much of our culture is sitting in boxes in foreign countries while we are told we cant have it back. Its theft plain and simple.
The auction houses dont seem to care about where these masks came from as long as the money is right. Ridiculous.
ABOUT TIME. Stop selling our history for a quick buck.
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These pieces belong back with their people. Museums should be ashamed of profiting off stuff that was clearly stolen during colonial times.