Open Restitution Africa

An Africa-led project seeking to open up access to information on return of African material culture and human ancestors. By @andaniafrica & @africadheritage

[Open Restitution Africa @OpenRestitution]

Our Open Data Platform gives you the tools to support African restitution work. Explore 200 years of research & 25 cases across 12 countries with AI-powered tools.

Each journey is unique, and the lessons are now open to all. 🌍

🔗https://t.co/xawB87xYk7

#ORAOpenDataPlatform

[Open Restitution Africa @OpenRestitution]

Watch the walkthrough on Youtube:
https://t.co/WLb6g2CQQ6

Explore the platform:
https://t.co/xawB87xYk7

#OpenRestitutionAfrica #ORAOpenDataPlatform

[Open Restitution Africa @OpenRestitution]

How do you find a restitution case relevant to your research?

The Case Studies tool allows users to explore 25 restitution case studies from 12 African countries and access detailed information on restitution processes across the continent.

Watch the walkthrough ⬇️

[Open Restitution Africa @OpenRestitution]

Watch the walkthrough to see how it works:
https://t.co/bxyWmu9xGG

Explore the platform:
https://t.co/BA0WFSm71J
#OpenRestitutionAfrica #ORAOpenDataPlatform

[Open Restitution Africa @OpenRestitution]

Restitution Journeys is one of the four core features of the Open Restitution Africa Data Platform.

It is an interactive visualisation mapping over 200 years of restitution across Africa, bringing multiple case studies into a single timeline.

[Open Restitution Africa @OpenRestitution]

Restitution Journeys brings together:

• A timeline showing key years
• Colour-coded journeys for each case study
• Nodes marking key events within each journey

These elements help trace patterns across more than two centuries of restitution activity.

[Open Restitution Africa @OpenRestitution]

Today, the ORA Open Data Platform goes live — six years in the making. Six years of research, collaboration and determination to make restitution knowledge accessible across Africa.

🔗https://t.co/BA0WFSm71J

#ORAOpenDataPlatform

[Open Restitution Africa @OpenRestitution]

This is a living resource, shaped by those closest to the work — ready for researchers, advocates, institutions, and communities.

🔗 https://t.co/BA0WFSm71J

[Open Restitution Africa @OpenRestitution]

Today, the ORA Open Data Platform goes live — six years in the making. Six years of research, collaboration and determination to make restitution knowledge accessible across Africa.

🔗https://t.co/BA0WFSm71J

#ORAOpenDataPlatform

[Open Restitution Africa @OpenRestitution]

The platform includes four main components:

Restitution Journeys
Case Studies
Dashboard
Query the Data

These four tools allow you to gain an overview of and understand the data as well as filter through, compare and analyse, and ask questions with our own Al powered tool.

[Open Restitution Africa @OpenRestitution]

Our data platform brings all this knowledge together, highlighting how restitution is not a single story.

It unfolds across communities, countries and decades and each journey carries histories of loss, advocacy and persistence.

#ORAOpenDataPlatform

[Open Restitution Africa @OpenRestitution]

Tomorrow, our Open Data Platform goes live. It is a first-of-its-kind space for exploration, learning and collaboration.

Over six years, Open Restitution Africa has engaged with practitioners and communities to document how restitution is experienced in practice.

[Open Restitution Africa @OpenRestitution]

We have explored the decisions, negotiations + conditions that shape these processes + how knowledge is shared and built across contexts.

Our work shows the journeys of cultural belongings + ancestral remains, the connections to communities + the persistence behind each return.

[Open Restitution Africa @OpenRestitution]

These conversations revealed a structural challenge: knowledge about restitution was often concentrated within museums, institutional archives and policy spaces, where access was limited and documentation uneven.

#RestitutionDialogues

[Open Restitution Africa @OpenRestitution]

As we prepare to launch the Open Restitution Africa Open Data Platform on 31st March 2026, we return to where this thinking began.

In 2020, Restitution Dialogues brought together African scholars and practitioners to reflect on restitution in practice.

#OpenRestitutionAfrica

[Open Restitution Africa @OpenRestitution]

Regardez l’épisode 4 de Restitution 101 sur YouTube✨

« Où Sommes-Nous Maintenant ? » examine le paysage mondial actuel de la restitution - jusqu'où le travail est allé, les principaux développements, les défis et le travail encore nécessaire.

https://t.co/wphDhJJdZx

[Open Restitution Africa @OpenRestitution]

We are LIVE now! on Zoom.

https://t.co/9J520DsJ2h

[Open Restitution Africa @OpenRestitution]

Due to technical issues, our IG Live conversation has been moved to Zoom and will now be taking place tomorrow!

📅 Tuesday 17th March

🕒 12:30 GMT | 13:30 WAT | 14:30 SAST

📍 https://t.co/9J520DsbcJ

[Open Restitution Africa @OpenRestitution]

Due to technical issues, our IG Live conversation has been moved to Zoom and will now be taking place tomorrow!

📅 Tuesday 17th March

🕒 12:30 GMT | 13:30 WAT | 14:30 SAST

📍 https://t.co/9J520DsbcJ

[Open Restitution Africa @OpenRestitution]

Episode 4 of Restitution 101 is LIVE ✨

"Where Are We Now?" examines the current global landscape of restitution — how far the work has come, key developments, challenges and the work still required.

🎬 Available in English + French
https://t.co/y6TIG2GRtu

#Restitution101