In a historic effort to advance cultural justice and heritage restitution, UNESCO and the African Union Commission (AUC) have jointly convened a high-level dialogue focused on the return of African artifacts and the protection of cultural rights. The forum, held in Addis Ababa, brought together ministers of culture, museum directors, traditional leaders, and academics from across the continent.
The meeting marks a decisive step in Africa’s decades-long campaign for the repatriation of looted cultural property, much of which was taken during the colonial period and remains housed in European institutions.
“This dialogue represents not only restitution of objects but also restitution of memory, identity, and dignity,” said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, calling the meeting a turning point for Africa’s cultural sovereignty.
Over 30 African states participated, presenting updates on bilateral negotiations, national restitution commissions, and cultural heritage laws. The dialogue emphasized that the return of artifacts must be accompanied by capacity-building for local museums and training for heritage professionals to ensure preservation and access.
The African Union Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, Ambassador Minata Samate Cessouma, stressed that the restitution movement is part of a broader Pan-African cultural renaissance.
“Africa is not asking for charity — we are reclaiming what rightfully belongs to us,” she said. “Cultural heritage is a pillar of our sovereignty and a foundation for development.”
Discussions also touched on the digitization of heritage, proposing a continental database of African artifacts to strengthen transparency and coordination between countries and museums. Experts from Benin, Nigeria, Egypt, Senegal, and Ethiopia shared successful examples of returns, including the Benin Bronzes, Makonde Masks, and Axum Obelisk.
UNESCO officials reiterated their commitment to supporting member states in the implementation of the 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.
The dialogue also confronted new challenges, such as private collections, illegal art trafficking, and the repatriation of digital heritage — an emerging issue in the age of AI and global data ownership.
Civil society groups called for youth inclusion and public education on restitution, noting that awareness remains low despite its cultural and economic significance. The event closed with a resolution to establish a permanent joint UNESCO–AUC working group on restitution and to expand cooperation with regional institutions such as ECOWAS, SADC, and the East African Community.
“The return of Africa’s heritage is not a symbolic act — it is a political, economic, and spiritual necessity,” said Professor Felwine Sarr, co-author of the influential Sarr-Savoy Report on restitution.
As Africa deepens its engagement with global cultural diplomacy, this dialogue signals a powerful shift — from petitions for return to institutional coordination and self-determination. The road ahead may be complex, but the message from Addis Ababa was clear: Africa’s heritage will no longer be silenced or stored behind foreign glass.