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Dutch to return Ghana king's head | Dutch to return Ghana king's head |
(4 days later) | |
The head of a Ghanaian king executed by Dutch colonists in the 1830s is to be returned to its homeland for burial, say authorities in the Netherlands. | The head of a Ghanaian king executed by Dutch colonists in the 1830s is to be returned to its homeland for burial, say authorities in the Netherlands. |
Badu Bonsu II, leader of the Ahanta group, is believed to have been decapitated in retaliation for the killing of two Dutch emissaries. | |
The Leiden museum, which has been storing the head, said it hoped it could now have a dignified burial. | The Leiden museum, which has been storing the head, said it hoped it could now have a dignified burial. |
Ghana had said the king would not be at rest if the head remained where it was. | Ghana had said the king would not be at rest if the head remained where it was. |
King Bonsu is thought to have been executed after the two officials were killed during a rebellion against European rule in the country, hanging their heads on his throne as a trophy. | King Bonsu is thought to have been executed after the two officials were killed during a rebellion against European rule in the country, hanging their heads on his throne as a trophy. |
At some point, the king's head was taken from Ghana to the Netherlands, and has been kept in a jar of formaldehyde at the Leiden University Medical Centre ever since. | At some point, the king's head was taken from Ghana to the Netherlands, and has been kept in a jar of formaldehyde at the Leiden University Medical Centre ever since. |
Author Arthur Japin told Dutch media last year that he once saw the head while researching a historical novel. | Author Arthur Japin told Dutch media last year that he once saw the head while researching a historical novel. |
"He's got a little ring beard, his eyes are closed as if he's sleeping," said Mr Japin. | "He's got a little ring beard, his eyes are closed as if he's sleeping," said Mr Japin. |
"My first thought was, this is not fitting." | "My first thought was, this is not fitting." |
After hearing of the head's location in 2008, Ghana filed a request for its return, saying if it remained unburied the king would be incomplete and therefore "hunted in the afterlife". | After hearing of the head's location in 2008, Ghana filed a request for its return, saying if it remained unburied the king would be incomplete and therefore "hunted in the afterlife". |
'Good thing' | 'Good thing' |
Now, a Dutch culture ministry spokesman has said the museum has decided to "restore the head to Ghana" as a matter of dignity. | Now, a Dutch culture ministry spokesman has said the museum has decided to "restore the head to Ghana" as a matter of dignity. |
As he was a king, putting his head on display would amount to some form of humiliation for his people Prof Addo-Fening | |
"This is a king," Freek Manche told the AFP news agency, emphasising its importance. | |
The museum said in a statement that officials had been in contact with Ghana to arrange for the careful return of the preserved head. | The museum said in a statement that officials had been in contact with Ghana to arrange for the careful return of the preserved head. |
They said they had not allowed any photographs to be taken out of respect for the human remains. | They said they had not allowed any photographs to be taken out of respect for the human remains. |
The BBC's Will Ross in Accra says respect for the dead has huge cultural significance in Ghana. | The BBC's Will Ross in Accra says respect for the dead has huge cultural significance in Ghana. |
Ghanaian historian Prof Addo-Fening told the BBC that the museum's decision was "very, very important". | Ghanaian historian Prof Addo-Fening told the BBC that the museum's decision was "very, very important". |
"When people die and their bodies are not found and buried, it leaves a lingering fear that they will not find rest with their ancestors until this is done," he said. | "When people die and their bodies are not found and buried, it leaves a lingering fear that they will not find rest with their ancestors until this is done," he said. |
"As he was a king, putting his head on display would amount to some form of humiliation for his people - but they now have an opportunity to show some reverence to their late king before they bury him." | "As he was a king, putting his head on display would amount to some form of humiliation for his people - but they now have an opportunity to show some reverence to their late king before they bury him." |
"I imagine that this will be a a good thing for the psyche of the community," he said. | "I imagine that this will be a a good thing for the psyche of the community," he said. |
Museum spokesman Marleen van't Oever told AFP that no date had yet been arranged for the return but it was "likely to be in the long term". | Museum spokesman Marleen van't Oever told AFP that no date had yet been arranged for the return but it was "likely to be in the long term". |
The museum's move follows decisions by other western museums to return items taken during colonial times or explorations. | The museum's move follows decisions by other western museums to return items taken during colonial times or explorations. |
In 2006, the University of Aberdeen in Scotland returned to New Zealand the preserved heads of nine tattooed Maori tribesman seized in the 19th Century. | In 2006, the University of Aberdeen in Scotland returned to New Zealand the preserved heads of nine tattooed Maori tribesman seized in the 19th Century. |
The same year, Britain's Natural History Museum returned the remains of 18 indigenous people taken from Australia. | The same year, Britain's Natural History Museum returned the remains of 18 indigenous people taken from Australia. |
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