Why Some Museums Are Filled With Stolen Objects

Summary

The video explores the colonial theft of cultural artifacts, focusing on the Benin Bronzes looted by British forces in 1897. It highlights the problematic history of museums displaying stolen items, from shrunken heads to sacred totem poles. The video examines how these artifacts were often exhibited to reinforce racist stereotypes and imperialist narratives. It also discusses efforts by institutions like the Pit Rivers Museum to decolonize their collections and return artifacts to their rightful owners. The call for repatriation and a more ethical approach to museum practices is underscored, challenging the legacy of colonial exploitation.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Benin Bronzes were stolen by British colonial forces in 1897, during a brutal looting of Benin City, and are still held in Western museums like the British Museum.
• 😀 The British Museum sold some of the Benin Bronzes back to Nigeria between 1950-1970, raising ethical questions about selling stolen artifacts.
• 😀 Museums like the Pit Rivers Museum are attempting to engage with the problematic history of their collections by identifying items to be returned and decolonizing their presentations.
• 😀 Shrunken heads, often displayed in museums, were misrepresented by Europeans and used to reinforce racist stereotypes about indigenous cultures.
• 😀 The practice of making shrunken heads, originating from Ecuador and Peru, was misunderstood and was actually part of a spiritual belief to capture souls for good harvests.
• 😀 Museums around the world are increasingly aware of the ethical issues surrounding human remains and looted cultural artifacts.
• 😀 The Haida Nation's totem pole, bought by a museum in 1901 for a mere $36, symbolizes the broader history of indigenous cultures being stripped of their possessions by European missionaries and collectors.
• 😀 Naga trophy skulls in museums represent another example of colonial exploitation, as the Naga people were misrepresented as headhunters to justify British control and subjugation.
• 😀 The British Empire's attempts to colonize the Naga people involved not only military violence but also the imposition of opium addiction and Christian conversion efforts.
• 😀 There is a growing movement for the repatriation of stolen artifacts, with some museums, like the British Museum, returning items such as the Benin Bronzes and France returning 26 objects in 2020, signaling a shift in how museums are engaging with colonial history.

Q & A

What was the historical significance of the Benin Bronzes?

The Benin Bronzes are a collection of plaques and sculptures that were looted from the Kingdom of Benin (in modern-day Nigeria) by British colonial forces in 1897. Their theft represents a major example of the cultural plunder during European colonial expansion.

How were the Benin Bronzes acquired by the British Museum?

The British Museum holds many of the Benin Bronzes, some of which were acquired during the British colonial military campaign in 1897, when British soldiers massacred local inhabitants and looted thousands of artifacts from the royal palace.

What was the response of the Kingdom of Benin regarding the Benin Bronzes?

The royal court of Benin has called for the return of the Benin Bronzes, as they are significant cultural and historical artifacts of their heritage.

What controversial action did the British Museum take between 1950 and 1970 regarding the Benin Bronzes?

Between 1950 and 1970, the British Museum sold a few pieces of the Benin Bronzes back to Nigeria, which was seen as highly problematic, as it was compared to a thief returning stolen goods and demanding money in return.

What was the significance of the Pit Rivers Museum and how are they addressing their controversial collection?

The Pit Rivers Museum, founded by Augustus Henry Lane Fox, holds a large collection of artifacts, some of which were acquired during colonial times. The museum is now working to decolonize its collections by returning items to their countries of origin and reevaluating how they present these artifacts.

What are 'shrunken heads' and how have they been misrepresented in museums?

Shrunken heads, also known as 'tsantsas,' are human, monkey, or sloth heads made by indigenous cultures in Ecuador and Peru. European museums misrepresented them as barbaric war trophies, reinforcing racist stereotypes, even though they were created to capture souls for spiritual purposes.

Why did the Pit Rivers Museum decide to remove the shrunken heads from display?

The Pit Rivers Museum decided to remove the shrunken heads from display in 2020 because their presentation reinforced negative stereotypes about indigenous cultures and failed to respect the cultural context of these objects.

How were indigenous objects, like totem poles, taken from their original cultures?

Indigenous objects, such as totem poles, were often taken during the colonial period by European missionaries or collectors. These items were sometimes seized as 'unholy' by missionaries and later sold or displayed in European museums.

What is the controversy surrounding the display of human remains in museums?

The display of human remains, such as the Naga trophy skulls in the Pit Rivers Museum, is controversial because these remains were taken from indigenous people without consent. The ethical dilemma arises from the fact that these objects are part of the living cultural heritage of the Naga people.

What is the importance of returning stolen cultural artifacts to their countries of origin?

Returning stolen cultural artifacts is important because it allows the original cultures to reclaim their heritage and decide how to best preserve and display these items. It also helps to undo the historical wrongs of colonialism and imperialism.