The term decolonisation has become a ubiquitous rallying cry across museums, archaeology, and academia. In principle, it invokes a radical reordering of power—a genuine undoing of colonial structures and return of control to colonized or marginalized peoples.
In practice, however, “decolonisation” is often invoked so broadly that its meaning risks dilution.
To preserve the integrity of the concept, decolonisation must be re-anchored in material actions and power shifts.
This includes restitution of stolen cultural heritage, meaningful collaborations with source communities, and accountability to those historically disenfranchised.
Without structural transformation, decolonisation becomes a hollow aesthetic—a mask for institutional inertia.
