Belgium-DR Congo: Belgian king donates mask as start of large-scale return

On Wednesday, Begian king Philippe and prime minister Alexander De Croo handed over a mask from the AfricaMuseum to the National Museum of Congo (MNRDC). The work of art was bought by the museum in Tervuren (near Brussels) seventy years ago, but authorities decided that it better belongs in the Congolese capital.

Belgium has resolved to return to Congo all art that was transferred to Belgium during the colonial period. "With that, we are unique in the world", claims prime minister Alexander De Croo. "Other countries work object by object, but we came up with a general approach. We want to find out, in a scientific way, the origin of all objects held by Belgian museums."

Last week, the legal framework for this large-scale restitution was approved in a parliamentary committee. Once the text has been voted by the plenary, the operation can begin.

"The beginning of a strengthened cultural cooperation between both countries", the king said.

On Wednesday, a ritual mask was given on loan for an unlimited period. "It was bought more than seventy years ago by a researcher of the AfricaMuseum", says King Philippe. The 130-centimetre work was chosen from the AfricaMuseum's collection in cooperation with the MNRDC because it fills a gap in the museum's collection in Kinshasa. "A symbolic gesture, to show that we mean business", says Belgian state secretary for Science Policy Thomas Dermine. "The beginning of a strengthened cultural cooperation between both countries", the king said.

One question remains, however, whether Congo is equipped to handle a large-scale donation of artworks. The MNRDC's brand new building was built with South Korean development aid - even the fire extinguishers are Korean - but is too small to accommodate the entire collection. The Congolese lack the budget to conserve or restore the remaining pieces in the right conditions.

(BRV)

© BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK