UK gives £1m to Sudan museums seeking return of looted treasures

THE British Council has paid £1million to Sudanese museums that are now demanding the UK repatriate cultural treasures.

The Council projects soft power by funding cultural schemes around the world, and in 2018 awarded a grant to three museums in Sudan overseen by the country’s National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums (NCAM).

The head of the NCAM has now demanded that the UK repatriate objects taken by imperial troops in the 19th century, and suggested they could be moved to the Sudanese museums that have received British funding.

The funding of organisations lobbying for repatriation has raised questions over how the UK’s quangos are allocating cash.

Dr Eglal el-Malik, the NCAM conservation director, has called for the return of banners, armour, and human remains taken after Britain crushed Sudanese resistance at the battle of Omdurman in 1898. There are hopes these items could be handed over to the Khalifa House museum – one of three NCAM institutions to receive a share of a £997,000 British Council grant.

The battle of Omurdman was fought between the British and the forces of the Mahdi, and tokens were taken from the battlefield by the victors.

Sudan is now seeking the return of a banner used by the forces of the Mahdi – a messianic Muslim leader – which is held at Durham University’s Palace Green Library.

A suit of Mahdi armour held by the Royal Armouries is also being sought, along with two skulls taken from the battlefield which are at the University of Edinburgh’s Anatomical Museum.

Dr el-Malik recently announced, in relation to the Omdurman artefacts: “We have to have a big campaign. These people are our brothers, our heroes. They defended our country. It is a special story of resistance to imperialism.”

Concerns have been raised about returning items to potentially unstable regions.

Robert Poll, who has campaigned with the Save Our Statues group, said: “Funding foreign museums, who want to strip our museums, is another instance of arms-length bodies giving taxpayers’ money to those who seem to be working against British interests.”

Scrutiny of British Council funding comes after concerns were raised about the spending of culture quangos, including Arts Council England, which funds UK museums and galleries.

The British Council funding – which is supported the Department of Digital Culture Media and Sport – is intended to restore Sudanese museums devastated by conflict in the region.