The Manhyia Palace Museum under the direction of Mr. Ivor Agyeman-Duah has announced a series of major international partnerships and heritage initiatives towards preserving Asante history and promoting Ghanaian art in the global community.
Mr. Agyeman-Duah while addressing the guests to the second edition of the Otumfuo Osei Tutu Arts Awards in Kumasi last week said the Museum was expanding its global engagements through collaborations with museums, cultural agencies and heritage institutions across Africa and Europe.
According to him, the restitution campaign by the Asante Kingdom has entered a new phase following discussions with institutions including the Wallace Collection over looted Asante artefacts.
He announced that an exhibition dubbed “Encountering Gold – Asante and the Wallace Collection” will open in London in 2027 featuring gold regalia taken during the Anglo-Asante War of 1874.The exhibition, he said, is expected to be officially opened by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene.
Mr. Agyeman-Duah disclosed that the Manhyia Palace Museum has completed identification and authentication processes on a number of Asante artefacts currently at the Wallace Collection in England pending the permanent return of the first batch of said artefacts to Ghana next year.
Director Agyeman-Duah also announced plans for the construction of a modern storage and conservation facility, with the support of Justice and Repair, to protect the returned artefacts and existing collections.
He mentioned partnerships with heritage agencies in Rwanda, Eswatini and Seychelles focused on educating young people about African history through digital technology.
The Director of Manhyia Palace Museum also announced a collaboration with the Nelson Mandela Foundation for an upcoming exhibition in Mauritius to explore Indian Ocean Slave Trade.
He said the Museum has acquired over a 100 historical photographs, which document life in Kumasi from the 1950s.
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