The Manhyia Palace Museum, which was renovated under the patronage of Asantehene King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has reopened to the public.
It is filled with several royal artifacts plundered by the colonial rulers of the Asante Kingdom some 150 years ago, some of which are adorned with gold ornaments known as mponponsuo. Includes a ceremonial hat, sword of state, three cast gold Soul Washer badges, and a golden peace. The pipes were taken from the kingdom during the Anlo-Asante Wars, including the infamous Saglenti War of 1874.
Also on display are seven pieces of sheet metal ornaments, one silver spoon, one pair of silver anklets, and one piece of sheet metal ornament.
On display is a gold lute harp given by Asantehene Osei Bonsu to British diplomat Thomas Edward Bowditch during the 1817 trade treaty.
Fifteen of the artefacts were returned from the British Museum (BM) and 17 from the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A).
Speaking at the return of looted artefacts, Otumfuo Osei Tutu said the return of the items was a restoration of the Asante spirit.
“The items that have come back are, in effect, the soul of the Asante people. Not all of them have come back. But what we have here embodies the spirit of the Asante. Today is a great day for Asantes and for the black African continent. “It’s a day. The spirit we cultivated and shared has returned to us,” he said.
Featuring lifelike mannequins of 20th and 21st century Asantehenes and Asantehemas (Queen Mothers), the exhibit tells the story of the Asante Kingdom’s heritage, including its history with the British Empire.
Last Wednesday’s event was part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of Mr. Asantehene’s elevation to the Golden Stool as its 16th resident.
In 1995, during his Silver Jubilee, Otumfuo Opokuwea II built a palace built by the British for Asantehene Nana Prempeh I in 1925 to replace the royal palace destroyed by the British during the Yaa-Asantewaa War of 1900. The first Manhyia palace built was opened as a museum. .
Nana Prempeh I accepted it only after paying the full cost.
According to Ivor Agyemang Dua, director of Manhyia Palace Museum and chief negotiator for the Asantehene, an international movement was underway to repatriate cultural artifacts to their rightful origins.
“Fifty years after Asantehene Otumfuo Opoku Potter II first asked the British Museum for the return of objects in 1974, Homecoming renews ties between Britain and the United States in a spirit of progress and co-operation.” he said.
The Fowler Museum personally returned the treasure to the Asantehene on February 8th. They also include royal stool ornaments from the personal collection of Asantehene Kofi Karikari, who ruled during Kumasi’s sacking.
“The British Museum’s laws prohibit the permanent removal of objects, but thanks to a mutually beneficial collaboration between Otumfuosu Opokwea II and Osei Tutu II, and the British Museum and the V&A, the British Museum was able to remove objects 150 years ago. We look forward to further dialogue.”
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi