The Royal Artillery is under scrutiny for its continued refusal to grant public access to a remarkable artefact looted from the Asante people during the 19th century. The golden ram’s head, a symbol of both cultural heritage and colonial exploitation, remains locked away in the regiment’s officers’ mess at Larkhill, Wiltshire, raising questions about accountability and the moral implications of retaining such objects.
A Legacy of Looting
The stunning golden ram’s head, measuring approximately 19cm across with intricately spiralled horns, was taken during the British military’s brutal campaign against the Asante in 1874. In a move that would devastate the once-thriving capital of Kumasi, British forces not only confiscated treasure but also set fire to the royal palace, symbolising a dark chapter in colonial history. The commander of the expedition later boasted, “I had shown the power of England,” a chilling testament to the imperial mindset of the time.
This artefact is part of a broader collection of treasures pilfered during the Anglo-Asante wars, which were primarily driven by British interests in the region’s natural resources. The spoils were later sold off, with some pieces eventually finding their way to esteemed institutions like the Victoria and Albert Museum and the British Museum. Notably, in a significant yet limited gesture, the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum returned 32 pieces of gold regalia to Ghana in 2024, albeit only on long-term loan.
Denied Access: A Modern Irony
Barnaby Phillips, a former BBC journalist with extensive experience reporting from Africa, recently attempted to view the ram’s head as part of his research for an upcoming book. His request was met with a curt refusal, citing security concerns. “It’s an army institution holding the spoils of war, but they say it’s not safe to show it to me. That’s somewhat ironic,” Phillips remarked, highlighting the deep-seated contradictions in the military’s stance.
The response from the Royal Artillery’s regimental secretary was resolute: public access to the artefact remains off-limits due to “security grounds.” This decision has sparked outrage among historians and advocates for cultural restitution, who argue that such significant historical objects should be made accessible to the public, rather than locked away for a select few.
The Call for Repatriation
Ivor Agyeman-Duah, a historian and director of the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi, has been tasked by the Asante king to negotiate the return of cultural treasures with British institutions. Agyeman-Duah expressed a keen interest in engaging with the Royal Artillery regarding the ram’s head, describing it as “iconic evidence of Asante prowess over two centuries.” His planned visit to England signals a potential shift in dialogue over the restitution of looted artefacts.
The Anglo-Asante wars concluded in 1901, culminating in the annexation of Asante territory into the British Gold Coast colony. The Asante people, who view gold not just as a material object but as imbued with ancestral spirits, have long resisted such colonial incursions into their heritage. Agyeman-Duah’s efforts to reclaim these cultural items resonate with a broader movement demanding accountability for colonial injustices.
A Complicated History
Phillips suggests that the Royal Artillery may feel “embarrassed” by the circumstances surrounding the ram’s head, particularly due to a 19th-century stand commissioned for it, which depicts three black boys in loincloths holding the trophy aloft. This representation, which cements the ram’s status as a colonial trophy, is seen as profoundly inappropriate by contemporary standards.
He pointed out that another artefact—a magnificent silver cross looted by the same soldier who took the ram’s head—also resides in the officers’ mess. “Two of the most extraordinary objects that were looted by the British army are in this mess and nobody can see them, except for the regiment’s invited guests,” Phillips lamented, advocating for their loan to public museums to allow wider access and acknowledgement of their histories.
An unnamed director from a prominent national museum, who was granted access to the artefacts, conveyed the disheartening reality: “When you see those things, and you realise no one else can see them, and they will never leave this place, it’s like a punch in the stomach.” Such sentiments reflect a growing frustration over the military’s unwillingness to confront its colonial past and engage in meaningful dialogue regarding restitution.
Why it Matters
The refusal to publicly display the golden ram’s head encapsulates a deeper issue: the struggle for recognition and reparative justice in the face of colonial legacies. The artefact is not merely a relic; it represents a painful history of exploitation and cultural erasure. As calls for accountability increase, the Royal Artillery’s stance raises critical questions about the responsibilities of institutions in addressing the consequences of their past actions. The future of such treasures should not be confined to the shadows of military barracks but brought into the light, allowing for healing and understanding in a world still grappling with the effects of colonialism.
