The ideation of restitution seemingly promises fundamental changes on the morphological scapes of politics & global mobility of ideas & people, Is it a convenient political ploy…? or a recognition of the extraordinary levels of historical violence, cultural & ecological harm…?

Abstract:

Emmanuel Macron’s promise of “temporary or definitive restitution of African cultural heritage to Africa” in November 2017 and its media circulation worldwide has given the question of colonial violence and lootings an unpreceded status. We are now experiencing culturally meaningful techniques of resistance for and against restitution all at once. Although the promise speaks to the changes in the landscape of politics and global mobility of ideas and people across all kinds of borders – gender, racial, national, political, personal, religious and so forth. It seems that the promise of restitution is a more convenient way of doing global politics rather than recognizing historical violence and cultural and ecological harm.