After more than 150 years of absence, 45 cultural treasures from Botswana are set to return to their homeland. The Brighton & Hove Museums network has confirmed their restitution, marking a major step in the recognition of African heritage.
The collection—comprising clothing, accessories, hunting tools, and everyday objects—was assembled in the 1890s by British missionary William Charles Willoughby in the Gammangwato region. A close associate of Chief Khama III, he entrusted these items to the Brighton Museum in 1899, during the colonial period of Bechuanaland.
The official request for restitution was submitted in 2022 by the Khama III Memorial Museum. Scheduled for April 2026, this return represents the first restitution of such scale between a British institution and Botswana. A permanent exhibition will open on May 27, 2026, in Serowe, the result of close collaboration between the two museums.
This return is the outcome of joint research conducted between 2019 and 2021 as part of the "Making African Connections” project, led by the University of Sussex. The study helped trace the precise origins of the objects and supported the restitution process. The project received funding from the James Henry Green Charitable Trust.
Beyond their material value, these objects embody a cultural memory long disconnected from its original context. Their return will allow local communities to reclaim their history and meaning. For officials at the Serowe museum, this restitution represents a symbolic and cultural act of reparation.
An international summit, co-organized with the University of Sussex and the University of Botswana, will accompany the exhibition’s inauguration, along with a cultural festival celebrating this historic event.
This restitution is part of a broader movement of African claims. Nigeria has, for decades, sought the return of the famous Benin Bronzes, looted in 1897. Several institutions, including the University of Cambridge and London’s Horniman Museum, have recently initiated restitutions.
In this context, Botswana also aims to promote and pass on its heritage to younger generations. With several elements listed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, including the Wosana ritual, the country reaffirms its commitment to preserving and celebrating its cultural legacy. The announced restitution thus stands as a powerful symbol of this ongoing momentum.