The Quai Branley museum displays artefacts from all over the world
PARIS, Oct 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Congolese activist and four others go on trial in France’s capital, Paris, for trying to take an African funeral staff from France’s indigenous art museum.
It was part of a protest against colonial-era plundering.
Emery Mwazulu Diyabanza and four others are charged with attempted group theft of a historical object and could face up to 10 years in prison and 150,000 euros in fines.
The charges stem from an incident in June when the 41-year-old activist went to the Quai Branly museum and removed a 19th-century funeral staff from Chad and paraded it around the building.
Since then he has staged similar operations at other museums.
Vice magazine has described Diyabanza as “a real-life Killmonger” – a character in the Black Panther film who also protests against a museum in Europe keeping an artefact pillaged from Africa.
But French officials have condemned the stunt and the Quai Branly museum is a civil party in the trial against Diyabanza.
“The issue of restitution… deserves a serious debate,” Emmanuel Kasarherou, director of the museum, said. — NNN-AGENCIES
