A new video game is addressing the issue of stolen African artifacts by creating a virtual world in which they can be returned.
Made by South African game developer Nyamakop, the game, titled “Relooted,” is currently available as a demo on Steam, but is expected to be released on PC and Xbox.
Set in the future in Johannesburg, South Africa, the video game is non-violent and has multiple playable characters, including a group of computer programmers, scientists and MMA fighters. The group is led by retired art historian Professor Grace, who represents the nation by expressing frustration with the lack of returns of African artifacts.
Through these characters, players will be able to steal and return a total of 70 artifacts, assembling the crew and planning their escape. All the artifacts are real-world artifacts that were taken from Africa to be displayed at Western museums. Artifacts include a drum taken from Kenya in 1870 that is now on display at the British Museum.
Speaking to CNN, the narrative director, Mohale Mashigo, explained how the game is set in the 21st century. The game draws comparisons more to African Futurism than to Afrofuturism, as it envisions a future for Africa that preserves its current cultures.
“You don’t get to see Africa in the future very often,” said Mashigo, per CNN. “It’s almost like Africa is not allowed to dream and be hopeful of what the future looks like.”
The creative director of the video game company, Ben Myres, emphasized that the game does not encourage stealing, but instead highlights the frustration that Africans feel for not having artifacts returned.
According to a widely cited 2007 UNESCO forum, approximately 90% to 95% of all sub-Saharan cultural artifacts are on display in museums located on other continents. Overall, thousands of African artworks and artifacts are said to have been taken away from their initial homeland, many of which were taken by force through colonization in the 19th century.
In France, the Musée du quai Branly alone houses more than 70,000 artifacts from Sub-Saharan Africa. As for the British Museum, more than 900 objects from Benin are in its collection. The museum has acknowledged that a majority, if not all, are from the 1897 military expedition during which British troops looted the Kingdom of Benin.
In recent years, some countries have returned a number of artifacts to Africa, although not permanently. Last year, the U.K. returned 32 gold and silver artifacts to Ghana for a three-year loan, with the option to extend it for an additional three years. The University of Cambridge also returned 39 artifacts to Uganda for a similar three-year loan with the option to make their stay permanent.
Considered the largest single restitution effort in history, the Netherlands returned 119 artifacts to Nigeria this June. Artifacts included a bell, animal figures, plaques and royal garbs. Meanwhile, while France has already returned 26 artworks that were seized by colonial soldiers in 1892 from Benin, it has yet to continue its mission to return cultural objects to Africa.
With the release of “Relooted,” the game developers hope that it will inspire gamers to look more into African history and restitution efforts.
“The whole game is this invitation to learn,” said Myres to CNN.
