ABSTRACT
Recent debates about the restitution of heritage objects taken from Africa during the colonial era have thrust African national museums into the limelight. However, jointly addressing the subject of national museums from critical and heterogeneous perspectives turned out to be a challenge. This chapter offers an overview of efforts being pursued in Africa and the Global North to decolonize museum and heritage practices and to bring about the restitution of heritage objects illicitly taken from the continent during the colonial era. It is important to note that restitution of African heritage and the role of national museums is not only a North-South phenomenon; some national museums maintain in their collections objects that were acquired from communities beyond the borders of the nations they represent. In 2020, demands for restitution were foregrounded, fueled by social justice movements such as Black Lives Matter.
