African art

French museums are nonetheless studying the origins of some 90,000 African objects in their archives. But the task is 'titanic and exhilarating' because of the lack of sources.

London's Horniman Museum on Aug. 7 said that it would return dozens of artifacts looted by British soldiers in Nigeria, including 12 of the famed Benin Bronzes.

"Ownership of 72 objects, which were forcibly removed from Benin City during the British military incursion in February 1897, will be transferred to the Nigerian government," the museum said in a statement.

An unprecedented Picasso exhibition opened last week in Senegal's capital Dakar, where about a dozen of the Spanish master's works are displayed alongside African art, from which he drew inspiration.

A pioneering modern artist who died in France in 1973, Picasso left behind a vast and influential body of work including paintings, sculptures, and ceramics.

Nigeria's government has handed over two bronze treasures to a traditional royal palace in part of a series of restorations of artifacts looted during colonial times.

In a ceremony accompanied by songs, drums and dancers on Saturday, a bronze cockrell and a king's bust were given to King Uku Akpolokpolor Ewuare II, one of the traditional rulers in Africa's most populous country.

France will give back 26 artworks, including royal thrones, ceremonial altars and revered statues to Benin later this month, part of France's long-promised plans to give back artwork taken from Africa during the colonial era.

BELGRADE - The exhibition entitled "Traditional African Murals" by Natasa Njegovanovic Ristic will be opened at the Museum of African Art in Belgrade on Tuesday.

The exhibition will display photographs of painted, relief and mosaic decorations used in house exterior and interior design and settlements in different parts of the African continent.