Reviews

As someone who is researching the repatriation of museum artifacts, this book could not have come out at a better time. I know how difficult it is to explain the complicated concepts of ownership and "culture war" on museums, but this book plainly explains the violence behind colonialist looting and the importance of these artifacts to their people.
It's an amazing book to think about when you visit museums, what stories are they telling? Whose stories are they telling? Where do these objects actually come from, and how?

danielb's review

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challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.0

Engages with an important issue in the ongoing impact of colonialism in the display of material. It covers a lot of ground, but manages to convey a message calling for action regarding the restitution/repatriation of looted objects - emphasising the British Protectorates and Companies in Western Africa and how the material from the campaigns is publicly displayed. The focal point of the book is Benin 1897, the legacy of material taken/looted from the affected communities (Benin City, Bida, Ilorin, etc.) and how museums should behave/function in the 21st century, including the future role of “universal museums”

elizabethchant's review

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challenging informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

Content Warnings

priyabryant's review

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challenging informative reflective medium-paced

3.5

Pretty densely written but a very good call to action on cultural restitution

beckyo's review

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challenging informative slow-paced

3.0

hughesie's review

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challenging informative slow-paced

2.0

An interesting subject matter and the book had an engaging premise. There were sections that referenced other events without explanation. The writing style was not particularly engaging, sometimes repetitive, and often in what is possibly 'museum speak' but to the uninitiated sounds a bit like corporate jargon.

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