Platform Walkthrough: Case Study Filter Tool
Case Studies Filter tool, one of the four core features of the Open Restitution Africa Open Data Platform,…
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Platform Walkthrough: Query the Data
Query the Data, one of the four core features of the Open Restitution Africa Data Platform, is an…
Platform Walkthrough: Restitution Journeys
Restitution Journeys, one of the four core features of the Open Restitution Africa Data Platform, provides an overview of how restitution…
PRESS RELEASE: LAUNCH OF OPEN DATA PLATFORM
First of its kind Data and AI Platform accelerating the return of African belongings and ancestors launches today…
Where Are We Now?
In this episode, R101 host Ngwatilo Mawiyoo, reflects on how far the restitution movement has come. We examine…
The Restitution Efforts of Oba Akenzua II and the Significance of the Benin Royal Stools
The Benin Royal Stools belonged to Oba Esigie, who ruled Benin from 1504–1550, and Oba Eresoyen, who ruled…
The Repatriation of Ife Cultural Belongings
The Ife Terracotta Head is thought to date back to the 12th to 15th century. Crafted in a…
Selective Memory and the Steindorff Case: What We Choose to Forget
The Georg Steindorff Collection, comprising 163 objects, is a central, yet complex, component of the Egyptian Museum-Georg Steindorff…
Restoring Royal Legacy: The Return of 119 Benin Bronzes from the Netherlands to Benin City
This case study is centred around 119 cultural belongings from the historic Benin Kingdom that are part of…
Redressing and Addressing the Lechwe Skin Cloaks of the Batwa people: 1912 – 2025.
This case study centres on a rare collection of Lechwe Skin Cloaks, garments traditionally made by Batwa men…
Formal Requests, Community-Based Activism, and Alternative Approaches: Rosetta Stone
The Rosetta Stone is a granodiorite stele dating back to 196 BCE. It is inscribed with a royal…
Echoes of Return | The Restitution of Rwanda’s Colonial-Era Audio Archives (1950s – Early 2000s)
These audio archives embody Rwanda’s living cultural heritage, especially its musical traditions that foster social cohesion and national…
Bones of Returned Memory: The Repatriation of Neolithic Skeletons from Bordeaux to Rabat
This case study concerns the repatriation of prehistoric human ancestors from Morocco’s Rouazi-Skhirat necropolis (an ancient cemetery or…
80 of King Moshoeshoe’s Belongings
King Moshoeshoe was the founder of the Basotho Nation. The collection referred to in this case study comprises…
Restitution 101 Screenings in Lesotho and Rwanda: Broadening the Conversation
In August and September 2025, Open Restitution hosted Restitution 101 screenings in Lesotho and Rwanda. These public events…
Rethinking Inventories for African-led Restitution
Inventories of collections within African museums and cultural institutions are essential for collections management, preservation, and cultural heritage…
Meet Our Fourth Cohort Of Case Study Researchers
Open Restitution Africa is pleased to share that we have completed our largest and final cohort of Case…
Restitution in Practice: From Policy to Activation
Between 19 – 20th March 2025, University of the Western Cape and Open Restitution Africa convened a two-day…
CASE STUDY RESEARCHERS: OPEN CALL-OUT
Open Restitution Africa is undertaking a large-scale research project to map past and current restitution undertakings for belongings…
Press Release: As the first-ever organization to centralize data on the restitution of African belongings and human ancestors, Open Restitution Africa releases groundbreaking case studies and data insights
(FEBRUARY 4, 2025) Open Restitution Africa (ORA)—the leading pan-African initiative dedicated to aggregating and disseminating information on the…
The Tangué – Belonging of the Bele-Bele Kingdom of the Douala Communities
The Tangué is intertwined with the political, spiritual and cultural lives of the water tribes of the Douala…
Hendrik Witbooi (|Gâbemab !Nanseb) Bible and Whip Repatriation Case
In 1884, Germany occupied Herero and Nama land in Namibia, under the auspices of protection treaties. When Gaob…
Episode 3: A history of Excuses
A history of excuses debunks the many historical justifications that have been used to delay or deny the…
Episode 2: A History Of Demand
In this episode, join our host, Ngwatilo Mawiyoo as she explores the journey of how Africans have reclaimed…
Episode 4: African Data Futures
Release: 28th July 2022 As we move towards the end of the series we ask – How can…
Episode 3: Ownership & Intellectual Property
Release: 21st July 2022 This episode explores the complex and entangled questions around legal ownership of digital collections…
Episode 2: Digital Collections (Part II)
Release: 14th July 2022 In this episode we reflect on digital practice as a form of repair, care…
Episode 2: Digital Collections (Part 1)
This episode takes a deep dive into the origins of museum practice and the colonial origins of museum…
Episode 1: Digital From An African Perspective
In this episode, we begin by reflecting on the opportunities that digital technology presents for African societies while…
The Return of Ngadji: A sacred drum stolen from the Pokomo people
Ngadji was stolen from the Pokomo community in 1902 and donated to the British Museum’s Africa collection in…
Offer to Return 27 Vigango
Vigango originate from the Mijikenda community, which is made up of nine closely related but distinct cultural groups…
Offer to Return 30 Vigango
Vigango originate from the Mijikenda community, which is made up of nine closely related but distinct cultural groups…
The Repatriation of Sara Baartman
Sara Baartman’s death in France, on 1 January 1816, at the probable age of 26 years catapulted her…
The Restitution Journey of Ngonnso from the Nso Kingdom in Cameroon
The Ngonnso deity was stolen from the Palace of the Nso Fondom in 1902 during a punitive expedition…
Masalela a Monna wa Mosarwa* a boetse gae [The remains of the Mosarwa man have returned home]
Monna wa Mosarwa was the first human ancestor repatriation to Botswana, one of the first on the continent…
The Theft and Return of the Nalindele Mask
The Nalindele Mask is an adornment that is worn during the Luvale people’s circumcision rites and rituals. On…
The Return of Katana’s Vigango
Kigango (singular) or vigango (plural) are memorial funerary posts that maintain a perpetual connection between the living and…
Isanzu Community Perspectives on Ancestral Human Remains Restitution to Tanzania
In 1899, German military forces began erecting stations and forts in Kilimatine, Iramba and Isanzu areas in Tanganyika…
Return of 23 Cultural belongings to Namibia.
The 23 cultural belongings are from various communities in Namibia, and were selected to represent the various cultural…
The Return of the Rhodesia Cabinet Files to Zimbabwe from Rhodes University, South Africa
The Rhodesia Cabinet Files were housed at the Cory Library at Rhodes University in Makhanda, South Africa, and…
Human Ancestors Return to Kilwa
The human ancestors from Kilwa were housed in Nairobi, in the British Institute of Eastern Africa’s (BIEA) storeroom,…
Bamendou Tukah Mask
The community is now seeking the temporary loan of the Tukah mask, to be able to perform the…
Episode 1: A History Of Theft
In this captivating episode, we embark on a journey through history, exploring the complex, violent, and manipulative ways…
Kabwe Man
Kabwe Man (also known as “Broken Hill Skull” or “Rhodesian Man”) is said to be the first human…
Celebrating Emancipation Day in Kingston: A Restitution 101 Screening
On August 1st, as part of the Emancipation Day celebrations, Open Restitution Africa had the unique opportunity to…
Introducing Our Case Study Researchers (3rd Cohort)
We’re thrilled to introduce the newest members of our research team, who bring a wealth of knowledge and…
Restitution 101: A History of Theft (Dakar Screening)
Continuing our mission to cultivate meaningful dialogues around restitution, we conducted a screening of “Restitution 101: A History…
Introducing Our Case Study Researchers (2nd Cohort)
In our ongoing commitment to champion African heritage restitution, Open Restitution Africa proudly introduces the dedicated individuals who…
Chao & Molemo at The Open Society Foundations ‘Global Convening for the Restitution of African Heritage’
Our co-founders, Chao Tayiana and Molemo Moiloa, took the stage as featured speakers at the Open Society Foundations’…
Introducing Our Case Study Researchers
In our ongoing mission to champion the restitution of African heritage, we cast out a call for Case…
Open Call for Case Study Researchers
Open Restitution Africa is undertaking a large-scale research project to map past andcurrent restitution undertakings for material heritage…
African Voices in Restitution
African scholars and professionals who have contributed greatly to restitution conversations, efforts, through their dedication to the preservation…
Research Process Update
February was spent mapping out goals for the first half of the year. This set the tone for…
Access For Who? Podcast launch
The Access For who? Podcast hosted by Chao Tayiana Maina and Molemo Moiloa is a five part mini-series…
Restitution Dialogues with Nana Oforiatta Ayim, Ghana
Open Restitution Africa and the International Inventories Program are bringing together the conversations that the Object Movement Dialogues…
Restitution Dialogues with El Hadji Malick Ndiaye, Senegal
In this next webinar we will be exploring the question of Africa’s distinct position in the restitution debate and the…
Restitution Dialogues with Mulenga Kapwepwe & Samba Yonga, Zambia
Join us for the next Live Webinar on the 30th of September with Mulenga Kapwepwe & Samba Yonga of…
New Project seeking to highlight African voices on restitution of African artifacts launches with webinar series.
Press Release: OpenResitution.Africa launches online platform and webinar series with Africa-led conversations on museum restitution of African heritage…
Restitution Dialogues with Dr.Njoki Ngumi, Kenya
Live Webinar on the 26th of August with Dr. Njoki Ngumi from Kenya. Dr.Njoki Ngumi is a member…
