Restitution of Cultural Heritage – an African or rather a European Affair? The Case of the African Great Lakes Region

Abstract The debate on the repatriation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage and belongings has developed a broad dynamic in recent years. This sudden activism raises questions. What is its background, what are the goals behind it, and how are they to be achieved? Is it primarily about African or rather European interests? It is essential to reverse our gaze and consider how things look from an African perspective. The circumstances vary greatly from state to state. The article focuses, on the African side, on the Great Lakes region, extended to include Tanzania to cover the entire former German East Africa. On the European side, the cases of Germany and Belgium are examined in more detail. To date, the issue of restitution has primarily been approached from a European perspective. As a result, essential aspects have been and continue to be neglected. The effects and consequences of restitution in the target country deserve central attention. This is not least about the relationships between actors at the central state level and local interest groups. The possibilities and limitations of museums and other local cultural institutions must also be considered. The example of Burundi is used to discuss best practices in the restitution of tangible and intangible cultural heritage.