Côte d’Ivoire Exhibits Cultural Artefacts Returned from German Research Collection

Côte d’Ivoire has unveiled a collection of cultural artefacts returned from Germany, placing them on public display at the country’s national museum decades after they were removed during academic research expeditions.

The objects were originally collected by German ethnologist Hans Himmelheber, who conducted extensive fieldwork across Côte d’Ivoire between the 1930s and 1970s. During his travels, Himmelheber acquired both ritual and everyday items while also documenting local communities through photography and film.

Almost 100 artefacts, alongside approximately 15,000 photographs and more than a dozen films, have now been repatriated to Côte d’Ivoire.

The returned materials represent the cultural heritage of several ethnic groups, including the Senufo, Dan, Baoule, and Guro peoples.

The collection is currently being exhibited in Abidjan and Man, offering the public renewed access to objects that reflect the country’s rich artistic and cultural traditions.

The exhibition comes amid increasing calls for museums and private collectors in Europe and the United States to return cultural artefacts acquired during the colonial era, as countries across Africa push to reclaim and preserve their historical heritage.