The documentary raises also the question to whom exactly should the looted cultural treasures be returned? To nation states whose arbitrary borders are often themselves the result of colonialism? Or to the descendants of traditional cultures of origin within these states, who were once the victims of colonial encroachment?
One example is Nigeria. In move that would’ve been considered unthinkable just a few years ago, Germany is returning a large part of the disputed Benin bronzes to Nigeria. For years, legal arguments had been made as to why the bronzes were “rightfully” in Germany despite colonial crimes. Now, however, a heightened awareness of post-colonialism moral obligations is increasingly determining action.
What are the arguments in favour of art historian Bénédicte Savoy’s “give it all back” demands?
And is there merit to the warnings of ethnologist Brigitta Hauser-Schäublin, who says: “You are gambling away world heritage”?
