By: Fatou Krubally
Members of the National Assembly on Thursday debated a motion calling for the restitution of Gambian cultural artifacts and sacred heritage removed during British colonial rule, with particular attention to items linked to Salikenni Village in the North Bank Region.
The motion, moved by Hon. Sulayman Saho, Member for Central Baddibu and Minority Chief Whip, urged the government to pursue the return of cultural objects taken from Gambian communities during the colonial period and now believed to be held in museums, archives and private collections in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.
Presenting the motion before the Assembly, Hon. Saho said several Gambian communities suffered historical injustices during colonial rule, noting that sacred objects, traditional instruments and cultural items were removed without the consent of local communities.
He cited Salikenni Village as one of the areas affected by colonial military actions, recalling that British soldiers once carried out a punitive expedition that resulted in the burning of the village.
The lawmaker also referenced incidents in which artifacts were allegedly seized during colonial confrontations.
Among them were cultural objects linked to the former King of Fulladu, Musa Molloh, whose collection of traditional items, including jujus and firearms, was confiscated after his arrest and exile to Sierra Leone in 1919.
He further mentioned the reported seizure of Foday Sillah’s war drum in 1893 following the deposition of the Emir of Kombo.
According to the motion, other cultural objects were also removed from areas such as Sankandi and Batteling during colonial operations in the early 1900s.
Hon. Saho argued that such artifacts represent an important part of The Gambia’s cultural identity and collective memory.
He told lawmakers that many of these items are now displayed in foreign museums, including institutions in the United Kingdom.
The motion calls on the Government of the United Kingdom, its High Commission in The Gambia, as well as institutions such as the British Museum and private collectors, to begin discussions on the restitution of Gambian artifacts taken during the colonial period.
It further urges the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, working with the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC), to compile a comprehensive inventory of Gambian artifacts currently held abroad.
The proposed measures also include the establishment of a National Restitution Task Force comprising historians, legal experts, traditional leaders, museum professionals and diplomats to coordinate efforts aimed at reclaiming the country’s cultural heritage.
If adopted, the motion would also seek support from regional and international bodies including the African Union, ECOWAS and UNESCO to assist The Gambia in pursuing the return of the artifacts.
Lawmakers heard that efforts to recover looted cultural property have gained momentum across Africa, with several countries recently securing the return of historical objects taken during colonial rule.
The Assembly is expected to continue deliberations on the motion as part of broader discussions on preserving and restoring the country’s cultural heritage.
