‘The last frontier of colonialism’: Museum restitution and the politics of longing

Abstract

This article offers the politics of longing as a new conceptual lens through which to view calls for the restitution of museum artefacts collected through colonial looting and plunder. Three perspectives frame this longing: that of the ‘host’ country, that of the ‘home’ country or source community, and that of the object itself. Empirically, the article is original in applying the politics of longing to selected documentary and fiction films that have depicted calls for African restitution. This contribution is significant in moving beyond oft-repeated arguments around universal museums, legal acquisition and keeping collections safe to consider the broader post-colonial context in which these arguments are couched. The medium of film effectively evokes the politics of longing through various narrative and visual techniques. What emerges is a shared desire to depict featured artefacts as out of place and a need to acknowledge the emotional and cultural ties binding people to their heritage.