[MSN] copyright in stolen African cultural objects

[MSN]

EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN MUSEUMS<

By Dr. Kwame Opoku 
Mon, 14 Apr 2008 | Print | E-Mail | PDF
Feature Article 

We have in previous articles raised the issue of copyright in stolen African
cultural objects that are now in European and American museums and the
profit the museums are making by the granting of permission to use images of
these objects or to film them. None of these profits goes to the artists who
made these objects or to their successors or communities of origin. These
museums which argue that they are keeping the stolen objects on behalf of
mankind and thereby make mankind accomplices in their deeds do not feel any
obligation to share the profits with mankind. These trustees feel they have
a right to keep the profits and benefits derived from the presence of the
African objects in their museums. The article below, from African Path,
reporting on a new documentary film to be released soon, Crown Fraud, throws
some light on the very interesting practices of the British Museum in this
regard. Even if one does not entirely accept the calculations in the
article, it does enable us to understand the need to discuss this issue and
to obtain some justice. Hopefully, we will soon have some explanations from
the British Museum and the other European museums about their position. One
would also encourage the communities concerned by this issue to let the
museums know their demands and urge their governments to take some action.

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