Cultural History Museum in Oslo does not think Kinshasa is interested in 3,000 objects from the Congo 

The Cultural History Museum in Oslo has over 3,000 objects from the Congo but believes that the National Museum in Kinshasa is not interested in them.

Several European countries are now transferring objects back to their African countries of origin.

According to the newspaper Klassekampen, a member of a resource group at the Cultural History Museum has visited the Congo National Museum and told them about the collection in Oslo. It consists, among other things, of bracelets, drinking cups, masks, and drums. But the museum in Kinshasa has not been asked directly if they want any of the objects returned, Tone Cecilie Karlgård, a museum lecturer and curator of diversity, stated.

“No, and I assume that they are not interested in that. The Congo collection does not contain large treasures or particularly rare items. It contains a number of everyday objects, of which the National Museum in Kinshasa has many of its own. But should there be a formal inquiry, we will certainly engage in dialogue,” she noted.

Karlgård emphasized that the museum processes all inquiries from groups of origin in an open and welcoming manner. 

She added that diaspora groups in Norway wish that the collections are accessible to them here in the country.

Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayTravel

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