June 8, 2022
Belgian king returns famous mask to DR Congo
BBC-In a historic gesture, King Philippe of Belgium has handed over the first of more than 80,000 artefacts taken from the Democratic Republic of Congo during the colonial era.
It was unveiled by the king and DR Congo’s President Félix Tshisekedi at The National Museum of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Belgian Royal Palace tweeted the moment:
The Kakuungu mask was bought by an art dealer 70 years ago and had been exhibited at the Africa Museum on the outskirts of Brussels.
It was used in healing ceremonies by the indigenous Suku community during Belgian rule.
At a ceremony in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, the two countries also signed an agreement relating to the return of more artefacts.
Copyright: AFP
King Philippe is on a week long visit to the DR Congo – his first since ascending to the throne in 2013.
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