EVENT

What is restitution? 
Book launch at the Weltkulturen Museum
With Kodzo Gavua and Hans Peter Hahn, moderated by Larissa Förster 

What is the objective of the restitution of cultural artefacts? How can restitution be viewed as a way of valuing cultural heritage? And what role is played by the various actors involved in the process of restitution? Kodzo Gavua (University of Ghana, Legon) and Hans Peter Hahn (Goethe University, Frankfurt) address these and many other questions in their new book, ‘Was ist Restitution?’ (What is Restitution?), published by Suhrkamp Verlag. At the Weltkulturen Museum, they will present the book to the public for the first time in a discussion moderated by museum director Larissa Förster. The topic of restitution is also of particular significance to the Weltkulturen Museum: its extensive collection includes numerous objects from colonial contexts and thus also raises questions of provenance and restitution.

Kodzo Gavua and Hans Peter Hahn do not view restitution as a one-off action, but as a long-term process. This process begins long before the actual return of the objects and does not end when the cultural artefact arrives at its destination. Rather, restitution is the result of ongoing cooperations and brings together those involved through their shared interest in achieving a long-term cultural, social and academic impact.

As Chair of the Ghana Focal Team on Restitution and Reparation, Kodzo Gavua will also draw on his own experiences with restitution processes. The Ghana Focal Team supports the restitution of Ghanaian cultural  artefacts and intangible cultural heritage through, amongst other things, research to establish the basis for restitution claims and by conducting diplomatic negotiations.

Kodzo Gavua is Associate Professor of Archaeology and Heritage Studies at the University of Ghana.

Hans Peter Hahn is Professor of Social and Cultural Anthropology at Goethe University Frankfurt am Main.

Bibliographic details:

Was ist Restitution? Kodzo Gavua, Hans Peter Hahn Publication date: 13 October 2026, 120 pages, Languages: German, suhrkamp taschenbuch, 978-3-518-30107-4

Venue: Weltkulturen Labor, Schaumainkai 37
Free admission
In English