#Restitutions: Museums Under Question

Faced with growing questions about the origin and ownership of works of art and cultural property, Souleymane Bachir Diagne, Director of the Institute for African Studies and Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University, and Marie-Cécile Zinsou, art historian and President of the Zinsou Foundation, will discuss how to reconcile historical justice, the circulation of knowledge and the preservation of museum collections.

While many cultural institutions defend the idea of a universal heritage, accessible to all and guaranteeing the dissemination of knowledge, this universalist vision may today clash with the demands for recognition of colonial suffering, shared memory and cultural sovereignty of the peoples concerned.

The discussion will highlight the importance of dialogue between cultures as a possible path to reconciliation between these sometimes contradictory principles. It will address the ethical, philosophical and heritage issues of restitution, while emphasising the need for collective reflection on the conditions for the equitable sharing of world heritage.

During this inaugural session, speakers will question the role and evolution of museums as spaces of memory, heritage justice and intercultural encounter. The discussion will invite us to rethink the mission of museums in a more open, inclusive world that is more aware of its shared history.

The talk will be moderated by the journalist Valérie Nivelon (RFI).

#Restitutions. Another definition of the world

A series of talks co-designed and moderated by Valérie Nivelon (creator of the podcast Africaines Queens and the radio program La Marche du monde on RFI).

On June 7, 1978, Amadou Mahtar M’Bow, the first African Director-General of UNESCO, issued a “solemn appeal” to governments, cultural institutions, museums, libraries, historians, and artists for the restitution of cultural property to their countries of origin. Nearly fifty years after this landmark call, where do we stand on the question of return?

The series #Restitutions. Another Definition of the World offers a space for reflection and dialogue on the restitution of artworks and cultural property acquired in contexts of violence and domination, as well as on the issues of memory, justice, and the circulation of heritage that these claims raise. Through seven conversations bringing together researchers, legal scholars, museum professionals, and cultural practitioners, the series seeks to provide analytical tools and contribute to more just, collaborative, and sustainable practices.

→ Learn more