The Africa Institute, Global Studies University hosted its inaugural lecture linked to the Restitution and Reparation: Africa and the Post-Colonial Condition Fellowship, supported by Open Society Foundations, on Wednesday, February 5, 2025.
The session, titled “Restitution and the Postcolonial Museum,” was delivered by Chika Okeke-Agulu, Robert Schirmer Professor of Art and Archaeology and African American Studies at Princeton University. Okeke-Agulu’s lecture examined the pressing issues surrounding the restitution of looted African cultural heritage, with a focus on the return of the Benin Bronzes. He argued that the return of these artifacts presents an opportunity to rethink museums in Africa, suggesting a new postcolonial museum model unburdened by colonial legacies. Okeke-Agulu highlighted the Museum of West African Art in Benin City as an example of this forward-thinking approach.
Moderated by Professor Elizabeth W. Giorgis, Chair of Humanities and Professor of Art History, Theory, and Criticism at The Africa Institute, the lecture provided an opportunity for an engaging dialogue about the role of museums in shaping cultural identity and confronting historical injustices.
Prior to her role, Professor Giorgis served as the Director of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies, the Dean of the College of Performing and Visual Art, and the Director of the Modern Art Museum: Gebre Kristos Desta Center at Addis Ababa University.
In addition to her role as moderator, Professor Giorgis has recently edited Henok Melkamzer: Telsem Symbols and Imagery, a newly released publication that examines Ethiopian telsem art in the context of contemporary global issues such as climate change and conflict. The book adds to her body of work on decolonizing art narratives and challenges the categorization of telsem as mere “healing art.”
The lecture also served as a reminder of the Restitution and Reparation: Africa and the Post-Colonial Condition Fellowship, hosted by The Africa Institute and supported by Open Society Foundations, which is currently accepting applications. The fellowship, aligned with the seminar’s themes, invites scholars and practitioners focused on restitution and repatriation issues related to African art and artifacts. It offers an opportunity to contribute to the meaningful discourse on cultural heritage and the ethical return of looted objects to their rightful homes, fostering research and dialogue in this critical area of study.
The Africa Institute, Global Studies University hosted its inaugural lecture linked to the Restitution and Reparation: Africa and the Post-Colonial Condition Fellowship, supported by Open Society Foundations, on Wednesday, February 5, 2025.
The Africa Institute, Global Studies University hosted its inaugural lecture linked to the Restitution and Reparation: Africa and the Post-Colonial Condition Fellowship, supported by Open Society Foundations, on Wednesday, February 5, 2025.
The session, titled “Restitution and the Postcolonial Museum,” was delivered by Chika Okeke-Agulu, Robert Schirmer Professor of Art and Archaeology and African American Studies at Princeton University. Okeke-Agulu’s lecture examined the pressing issues surrounding the restitution of looted African cultural heritage, with a focus on the return of the Benin Bronzes. He argued that the return of these artifacts presents an opportunity to rethink museums in Africa, suggesting a new postcolonial museum model unburdened by colonial legacies. Okeke-Agulu highlighted the Museum of West African Art in Benin City as an example of this forward-thinking approach.
Moderated by Professor Elizabeth W. Giorgis, Chair of Humanities and Professor of Art History, Theory, and Criticism at The Africa Institute, the lecture provided an opportunity for an engaging dialogue about the role of museums in shaping cultural identity and confronting historical injustices.
Prior to her role, Professor Giorgis served as the Director of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies, the Dean of the College of Performing and Visual Art, and the Director of the Modern Art Museum: Gebre Kristos Desta Center at Addis Ababa University.
In addition to her role as moderator, Professor Giorgis has recently edited Henok Melkamzer: Telsem Symbols and Imagery, a newly released publication that examines Ethiopian telsem art in the context of contemporary global issues such as climate change and conflict. The book adds to her body of work on decolonizing art narratives and challenges the categorization of telsem as mere “healing art.”
The lecture also served as a reminder of the Restitution and Reparation: Africa and the Post-Colonial Condition Fellowship, hosted by The Africa Institute and supported by Open Society Foundations, which is currently accepting applications. The fellowship, aligned with the seminar’s themes, invites scholars and practitioners focused on restitution and repatriation issues related to African art and artifacts. It offers an opportunity to contribute to the meaningful discourse on cultural heritage and the ethical return of looted objects to their rightful homes, fostering research and dialogue in this critical area of study.
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