MACRON URGED TO ALLOW ARTIFACTS’ RETURN TO AFRICA

France should change heritage laws to facilitate the return of thousands of African artworks pillaged or bought during the colonial era, government-appointed experts are to advise Emmanuel Macron, the president.

If approved, it would amount to a radical policy shift that could pile pressure on ex-colonial powers to hand back artifacts. The report follows calls to return cultural treasures to Africa, amid estimations that up to 90 per cent of its cultural heritage is in foreign hands.