Sagrenti War: The looted artefacts from Asanteman currently worth £2B
Speaking as the keynote speaker at a symposium held on February 6, 2024, to mark the 150th anniversary of the Sagrenti War of 1874, Prof. Tom McCaskie, Head of Birmingham University’s Center of West African Studies, emphasized that gold dust was among the artefacts.
He claims that although it is an underappreciated aspect of Asante history, it is nevertheless important to pay attention to.
He stated that a substantial amount of riches amassed by Nana Kwaku Dua, the predecessor of Asantehene Kofi Karikari All of us were lost in the loot, and Kumasi was reduced to ashes.
“The amount of gold contained in Adakakese alone at Kwaku Dua’s death was in excess of 400,000 ounces. This in 1867 was worth 1.2 million pounds sterling. The current value of the Adakakase is somewhere over 2 billion pounds.” He said.
Additionally, he emphasized that there is not a single mention of the money in any wartime history.
After Prempeh I’s return from exile in 1921, negotiations to recover wartime artifacts proved successful, and under the current Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the British Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum have agreed to return the items—albeit on loan.
This May of this year, they are anticipated in the nation.
Meanwhile, the Asante artifacts have been permanently returned to the Fowler Museum in Los Angeles, which was given seven of them by the Wellcome Trust in 1964.
WATCH VIDEO BELOW:
