The British Museum and the Manhyia Palace Museum have announced an extension of their longstanding partnership, paving the way for 15 pieces of Asante royal regalia to remain in Ghana for another three years.
The announcement follows a visit to Kumasi by the Director of the British Museum, Dr. Nicholas Cullinan OBE, at the invitation of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
Under the renewed arrangement, the loan of the 15 artefacts, currently displayed at the Manhyia Palace Museum as part of its Homecoming exhibition, will be extended for a further three years when the existing agreement expires in April 2027.
The collaboration, which also involves the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London, has brought 32 objects associated with the Asante Royal Court to Ghana, allowing many of the historical artefacts to be exhibited in the country for the first time in approximately 150 years.
The Asantehene has highlighted the importance of making the artefacts accessible to Ghanaians, particularly children, to enable them to appreciate the craftsmanship of the objects and develop a deeper understanding of their history and cultural heritage.
He also underscored the value of the partnership in promoting cultural understanding and ensuring mutual benefits for the participating institutions.
According to the announcement, visitor numbers at the Manhyia Palace Museum have doubled over the past two years, while visits by schoolchildren have almost quadrupled.
Speaking on the renewed partnership, Dr. Cullinan said the collaboration extended beyond the sharing of historical objects to include knowledge exchange, research and the development of new interpretations of shared history.
He expressed appreciation to the Asantehene and officials of the Manhyia Palace Museum for sustaining the relationship and said he looked forward to further achievements in the coming years.
The Director of the Manhyia Palace Museum, Mr. Ivor Agyeman-Duah, also welcomed the visit, describing the partnership as one that went beyond loan agreements to create opportunities for new projects and activities of mutual benefit.
During his visit, Dr. Cullinan toured the site of the new Manhyia Arts and Culture Museum, which Mr. Agyeman-Duah confirmed is expected to open in January 2027.
He also received an update on the restructuring of the Manhyia Palace Museum and met some of its newly appointed staff.
Among the 15 objects from the British Museum is a small gold ornament shaped like a lute-harp, known as a sankuo.
The ornament was among cast-gold objects presented to British diplomat Thomas Bowdich in 1817 during his visit to Kumasi to negotiate a trade treaty with the Asantehene, Osei Bonsu.
According to Bowdich’s account, the objects were intended as gifts for the British Museum and represented the wealth and status of the Asante nation.
The inclusion of the sankuo in the exhibition reflects historical connections between the British Museum and the Asantehene institution dating back nearly 200 years.
Other artefacts on display include royal regalia associated with the Anglo-Asante wars of 1873–1874 and 1895–1896. Some of these objects were looted from royal palaces in Kumasi and formed part of the regalia of Asantehene Kofi Karikari (c. 1837–1884) and Asantehene Prempeh I (1870–1931).
Meanwhile, the Victoria and Albert Museum is also expected to renew its loan agreement with the Manhyia Palace Museum under its Renewable Cultural Partnership, further strengthening international collaboration in the preservation and presentation of Asante cultural heritage.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
