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Barbara Chase-Riboud on restitution of African treasures

Western art galleries and museums which refuse to return art works for fear they may be at risk are guilty of a “colonial attitude to art”, sculptor Barbara Chase-Riboud has told ѿý News.

“Africa has made incredible progress in excavating their own history and celebrating it,” the US artist and writer told the ѿý Hardtalk programme’s Zeinab Badawi.

While “certain works are universal and belong to humanity, not to Africa or to Europe or anybody else,” she said, “basically, I’m for restitution.”

A 2018 French government report found that 90% of African treasures, artefacts and works of art are held outside of the continent.

Barbara Chase-Riboud currently has an exhibition at London’s Serpentine Galleries.

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2 minutes