Challenges of Repatriation: Asante Artifacts at the American Museum of Natural History

Author

Abdul-Alim Farook, The Graduate Center, City University of New YorkFollow

Date of Degree

6-2021

Document Type

Capstone Project

Degree Name

M.A.

Program

Liberal Studies

Advisor

Matthew Reilly

Subject Categories

African History | African Languages and Societies | History of Art, Architecture, and Archaeology | Military History | Museum Studies

Keywords

Repatriation, Asante, American Museum of Natural History, Museums, Gold, British Museum, Gold Coast, Ghana, Archaeology, Anthropology

Abstract

Inspired by calls for the repatriation of famous artifacts like the Benin Bronzes and the Elgin Marbles, for this capstone project, I have analyzed and catalogued 250 sampled Asante artifacts at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). Through this analysis, I discuss the many ways museums in North America acquired their collections. By doing so, I explore the difficulties that arise in debates surrounding repatriation due to the manner in which these artifacts were acquired. I argue that due to the many different types of donors of the Asante artifacts to the American Museum of Natural History, the Asante objects at the museum represent a challenging case for repatriation if the Asante kingdom was to ask for their return. This paper is accompanied by a website created through the CUNY Academic Commons, which is accessible here: https://ashantiobjects.commons.gc.cuny.edu/. The website offers a digital representation of repatriation issue, images of the cataloged Ashanti objects at the American Museum of Natural History, and historical background on the Anglo-Ashanti war.

Comments

Online component: https://ashantiobjects.commons.gc.cuny.edu/

Recommended Citation

Farook, Abdul-Alim, "Challenges of Repatriation: Asante Artifacts at the American Museum of Natural History" (2021). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/4424