Namibia: Restitution as opportunity for healing and reconnecting

The return of artefacts to their countries of origin is not just an act of repatriation, but an opportunity for healing and reconnecting with cultural roots, said Tuuda Haitula, the museum development officer at the Museums Association of Namibia.

He added that museums in Namibia and elsewhere should be prepared to safeguard these returned items, ensuring that they are contextualised within the rich histories from which they originated.

  • “This empowers communities to reclaim their heritage, reconnect with their past, and strengthen their identity for future generations. For Namibia, like many other African nations, the conversation around restitution remains a crucial issue,” he indicated.

Haitula was among a group of people who took part in a recent workshop in Paris, France, which was centred around the restitution of cultural artefacts and the critical role language plays in these discourses.