France to Fast-Track Return of Artifacts from Benin
Published on: Thursday 04 July 2019
Returning African artifacts taken by explorers and colonizers remains a hot-button issue in Europe-Africa relations — one that gained traction last November when French President Emmanuel Macron announced the return of 26 historic artifacts to Benin.
On Thursday, French Culture Minister Franck Riester said Paris will go ahead with the restitution without waiting for a new law to enshrine it. He said France will consider similar demands from other countries.
Europe is believed to house about 90 percent of Africa's cultural heritage.
