The African Kingdom of Gold: Britain and the Asante Treasure
Empire. Plunder. Resistance.
The forgotten history of Britain and the Asante gold.
1874. Kumasi, the Asante capital, burns. British soldiers prowl the palace, looting as much gold as they can find, before razing it to the ground. In Britain the soldiers are feted as heroes. In 1896 they return, looting the palace a second time and carrying off more gold to London in triumph.
Royalty, aristocracy and Londonās most illustrious museums divide the spoils. āIt is scarcely possible to do justice to the variety and beauty of these specimens,āĀ The TimesĀ declares. There are golden masks, swooping eagles and an exquisitely wrought ramās head. OneĀ mpomponsouĀ ā a ceremonial sword ā comes wrapped in a leopard skin sheath.
Tracing the course of Britainās wars with the Asante alongside the course of its plundered relics, Barnaby Phillips weaves a thrilling and poignant tale of imperial ambition and African resistance. Travelling from the Gold Coast to the museum galleries, officersā mess rooms and aristocratic homes of Britain,Ā The African Kingdom of GoldĀ confronts us with urgent questions about the legacy of Empire and, in particular, how our museums should respond.
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The African Kingdom of Gold: Britain and the Asante Treasure
The African Kingdom of Gold: Britain and the Asante Treasure
Empire. Plunder. Resistance.
The forgotten history of Britain and the Asante gold.
1874. Kumasi, the Asante capital, burns. British soldiers prowl the palace, looting as much gold as they can find, before razing it to the ground. In Britain the soldiers are feted as heroes. In 1896 they return, looting the palace a second time and carrying off more gold to London in triumph.
Royalty, aristocracy and Londonās most illustrious museums divide the spoils. āIt is scarcely possible to do justice to the variety and beauty of these specimens,āĀ The TimesĀ declares. There are golden masks, swooping eagles and an exquisitely wrought ramās head. OneĀ mpomponsouĀ ā a ceremonial sword ā comes wrapped in a leopard skin sheath.
Tracing the course of Britainās wars with the Asante alongside the course of its plundered relics, Barnaby Phillips weaves a thrilling and poignant tale of imperial ambition and African resistance. Travelling from the Gold Coast to the museum galleries, officersā mess rooms and aristocratic homes of Britain,Ā The African Kingdom of GoldĀ confronts us with urgent questions about the legacy of Empire and, in particular, how our museums should respond.
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Description
Empire. Plunder. Resistance.
The forgotten history of Britain and the Asante gold.
1874. Kumasi, the Asante capital, burns. British soldiers prowl the palace, looting as much gold as they can find, before razing it to the ground. In Britain the soldiers are feted as heroes. In 1896 they return, looting the palace a second time and carrying off more gold to London in triumph.
Royalty, aristocracy and Londonās most illustrious museums divide the spoils. āIt is scarcely possible to do justice to the variety and beauty of these specimens,āĀ The TimesĀ declares. There are golden masks, swooping eagles and an exquisitely wrought ramās head. OneĀ mpomponsouĀ ā a ceremonial sword ā comes wrapped in a leopard skin sheath.
Tracing the course of Britainās wars with the Asante alongside the course of its plundered relics, Barnaby Phillips weaves a thrilling and poignant tale of imperial ambition and African resistance. Travelling from the Gold Coast to the museum galleries, officersā mess rooms and aristocratic homes of Britain,Ā The African Kingdom of GoldĀ confronts us with urgent questions about the legacy of Empire and, in particular, how our museums should respond.
