Mati Diop premieres documentary on restitution of African artefacts at Berlin Film Festival

Mati Diop premiered her latest documentary, Dahomey, at the Berlin Film Festival, shedding light on the restitution of African artefacts looted during the colonial era, thehollywoodreporter.com

reports. The documentary follows the journey of 26 artefacts returned to Benin from France, following French President Emmanuel Macron’s promise of restitution in 2017.

The renowned filmmaker’s documentary focuses on the story of African art plundered from the kingdom of Dahomey in the 19th century. Among the returned works are statues of Dahomey’s former kings, King Glélé and King Béhanzin, along with their throne. The restitution of these cultural treasures has sparked significant discussion and reflection on colonial history and the impact of restitution.

During a press conference at the Berlin Film Festival, Diop expressed her long-standing commitment to addressing the issue of returning looted goods, stating, “The question of returning these looted goods has always been at the heart of what I do as a filmmaker.” She emphasised her desire to raise awareness and understanding of these issues through her work.

Originally conceived as a narrative feature, Dahomey evolved into a documentary format to capture the urgency of the restitution process. Diop highlighted the importance of incorporating the perspectives of young people in Benin, who often lack access to their country’s history of cultural heritage.

Accompanying Diop at the press conference were some of the young people featured in the documentary, underscoring the importance of reconnecting with their cultural heritage. Gildas Adannou, one of the participants, emphasised the need for greater education about Benin’s historical artefacts, stating, “The whole point of this process was to become connected once again to this history.”

Reflecting on the broader issue of restitution, Diop urged the French government to take further action beyond the return of 26 artefacts. She emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach to restitution and called for greater efforts to address the legacy of colonial exploitation.

“France has exploited this place for centuries. You need to do more. You need to go further,” Diop stated. “We need to think of restitution in a broad sense.” As Dahomey continues to resonate with audiences, it serves as a powerful call to action for confronting the legacy of colonialism and ensuring the rightful return of African cultural heritage.