n March 26, 2022, a 19th-century Ngil mask from Gabon’s Fang ethnic group sold for €4.2 million ($4.6 million) at an auction in Montpellier, France, far exceeding its estimated €300,000–400,000. “The total paid by the successful bidder… was 5.25 million euros,” per AFP, nearing the €5.9 million record for a similar Fang mask set in 2006 in Paris. The sale, conducted by auctioneer Jean-Christophe Giuseppi, sparked protests from Gabonese activists who decried it as “a case of receiving stolen goods” and demanded the mask’s restitution as a “colonial ill-gotten gain.”
Protests and Calls for Restitution
During the auction, a Gabonese protester in the Montpellier auction house, joined by compatriots, declared, “We’ll file a complaint. Our ancestors, my ancestors, from the Fang community, we will recover this object.” The group, escorted out by security, continued their demonstration outside, opposing the sale of African artifacts. The Ngil mask, used in Fang ceremonial practices, symbolizes cultural heritage, and its auction reignited debates over colonial-era looting. “It’s a colonial ill-gotten gain,” the protester emphasized, reflecting growing calls for repatriation across Africa.
Auctioneer’s Defense and Context
Auctioneer Giuseppi maintained the sale’s legality, stating, “The auction was entirely legal,” based on his knowledge. The auction also featured a Congolese chair sold for €44,000, highlighting the market for African artifacts. France has faced increasing pressure to return looted items, with 26 artifacts repatriated to Benin in 2021, per a UNESCO report. “The restitution of African cultural heritage is a moral imperative,” Gabon’s culture ministry stated in 2022, aligning with 90% of Africa’s cultural heritage held abroad, according to a 2018 French report by Felwine Sarr and Bénédicte Savoy.
Broader Restitution Debate
The sale underscored tensions over colonial artifacts, with Gabon and other African nations pushing for repatriation. “Museums and auction houses must engage in dialogue,” a Gabonese activist posted on X in March 2022, reflecting public sentiment. France’s 2020 commitment to return looted objects has progressed slowly, with only 2% of requested artifacts repatriated by 2022, per Artnet. The Ngil mask, likely acquired during colonial times, symbolizes the broader struggle for cultural justice, as Gabon seeks to reclaim its heritage amid legal and ethical debates.
Looking Forward
As of late 2022, no formal complaint from the Gabonese protesters had progressed, but the auction fueled advocacy for stronger restitution laws. “This sale is a wake-up call,” a UNESCO official noted, urging global cooperation. Gabon’s efforts, backed by the African Union’s 2021 restitution policy, aim to recover thousands of artifacts. The Ngil mask’s sale, while lucrative, highlighted the need for transparent provenance and ethical auctions, pushing France and other nations to address colonial legacies and support cultural repatriation initiatives.
