PhotoThe return of African artifacts will become “a top priority” for France during the next five years, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, vowed during a three-day trip to Africa. “I cannot accept that a large part of cultural heritage from several African countries is in France,” he told a group of students during a two-hour speech on Tuesday at the University of Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. “African heritage can’t just be in European private collections and museums.”“African heritage,” Mr. Macron said, “must be highlighted in Paris, but also in Dakar, in Lagos, in Cotonou,” referring to major African cities. “In the next five years, I want the conditions to be met for the temporary or permanent restitution of African heritage to Africa.”Issues relating to the economy, migration and education were at the forefront of Mr. Macron’s tour to Burkina Faso, Ghana and Ivory Coast, and his trip has been met with hostility: French news media reported that before Mr. Macron’s arrival in Ouagadougou, three civilians were injured by a grenade that was thrown at French soldiers. Advertisement Continue reading the main storyDr. Rachel King, lecturer in cultural heritage studies at University College London, said that while the French leader’s announcement was welcome, it raised questions about how France would implement a plan of restitution.

Source: New York Times November 29, 2017 17:15 UTC