The African continent has been subject to plundering for centuries, the nature, form and motivation of which has varied with conquests, colonization, independence and globalization. At present, plundering and the illicit trade of cultural property have seriously affected African history and compromise the development of populations. Export of blood samples and repatriation of human remains also raise important ethical questions. For several years, laws have been formulated, agreements ratified, ethics code proclaimed and ethical commissions established. Local initiatives for cultural heritage protection appeared, the return of cultural property and biological remains was organized. Yet the positive effects have not always been seen, or the situation is shown to be more complex than expected.
This vast issue has been recently the subject of several conferences, in Switzerland and elsewhere, oriented however particularly on cultural items of the Western world. At the federal level, the subject finds a growing response with the application of the law on the transfer of cultural items (LTBC). This conference propose to make an assessment centred on Africa, with questions focusing on national measures for the protection of cultural heritage and their effects, the state of progress made by Swiss and international legislation, the limits and perspectives of the actions of UNESCO and ICOM, cases of restitution and non-restitution, as well as ethical questions concerning acquisition, appraisal, dating, scientific exploitation and museum exhibition of anthropological and cultural heritage. In addition, less well-known topics will be addressed, such as the sociology of plundering, the exploitation of subaquatic cultural heritage and the management of cultural heritage in conflict situations. Finally, an analysis of the impact of the different local initiatives should offer perspectives on this complex and controversial issue, which is currently of great interest. This round table uniting researchers, teachers, museum curators and managers of Africanist collections places itself on the side of ethics and will address both the areas of cultural artefacts and human remains.
Registration for the conference is now possible. You can find the programme, panel abstracts and further information on http://au.unige.ch/memoireafricaine/
Although participation in the conference is free of charge, the number of seats is limited. Registration is possible until August 25 via the conference homepage.
