The Senate on Monday hosted African diplomats in Abuja to discuss the lingering impact of colonial exploitation, the return of stolen artefacts, and the broader need for historical redress.
The diplomatic forum was organised by the Senate Committee on Reparation and Repatriation and held at the National Assembly.Opening the session, Committee Chairman Senator Ned Nwoko emphasised the importance of African nations confronting their shared history of slavery, exploitation, and colonisation. He urged the continent to unite in demanding both symbolic and economic redress for centuries of dispossession.
“The trauma of colonisation still lives in our systems, our economies, and our fragmented identities. We must reclaim not just our artefacts but our dignity and collective future,” Nwoko said.
Representing the Senate President, Senator Tahir Mongunu, the Chief Whip, reiterated that issues of reparations and repatriation are no longer marginal, but central to global discussions on justice.
“Africa must seize the momentum. The Nigerian Senate is prepared to provide legislative support for diplomatic efforts that address these long-standing injustices,” Mongunu stated.Diplomats from Egypt, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe spoke about their countries’ experiences with looted cultural heritage and foreign exploitation.
Egypt’s Ambassador, Mohammed Fouad, stressed the continent’s right to reclaim its treasures, pointing out that many of Egypt’s ancient artefacts remain held in Western museums.
Tanzania’s Ambassador, Selestine Kekele, referenced the partial return of human remains from Germany but decried the continued possession of valuable relics like dinosaur fossils.Zimbabwe’s Ambassador, Maxwell Ranga, criticised decades of silence and inaction, stating that global powers have long profited from Africa’s natural wealth.
“We need a new economic order built on justice and industrialisation,” Ranga said.Senator Ipalibo Banigo cautioned against politicising or tribalising the issue, urging Africans to stay focused on justice and unity. “History is not for division. It is for awakening,” she added.
Source:https://punchng.com/
