PARIS (AP) — Activists dislodged a 19th century African funeral pole from its perch in a Paris museum Friday and tried to walk away with it, saying they wanted to return it to Africa in a protest against colonial-era abuses.
The culture minister said the 19th century artwork did not suffer significant damage and the museum would ensure necessary restoration.
The activists posted live video of the protest online, in which Congo-born Mwazulu Diyabanza lists works in the museum from former French or Belgian colonies in Africa.
The Quai Branly museum was built under former French President Jacques Chirac to showcase and celebrate non-European art, and has a large collection of works from former French colonies.
A 2018 study commissioned by President Emmanuel Macron recommended that French museums give back artifacts that were taken without consent, if African countries request them.
