Let me start this piece with an ironic note to my readers the research materials that are older than a thousand years used for this blog were collected from libraries and archives in the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, and the United States but it all concerns Africa thousand years back, but records received from African sources were not older than 600 to 800 years old to date ( quick note ).

Pottery found in Okigwe by anthropologist places Igbo tradition in existence at approximately 6000 BC, in 1978 Thurstan Shaw with teams of experts from the University of Nigeria Nsukka uncovered a rock quarry believed to be stone-age tools used during the stone age era.

History has it that the Igbo tradition spans back to the time of the NOK civilization whose existence dates back from 1500 BC to 500AD.
For me as an African that is wow information, oh hold! I did also write a blog about the kingdom of  Songhai and its riches, so now the question where is the full African history?
More than 95% of African history can only be seen outside Africa and yes for a price at some European museums.  In recent years, the call for these so-called stolen African artifacts to be returned to Africa has gained more support, from countries, journalists, NGOs, and even bloggers, but that however is not all that was taken away from the African continent.

With a recorded history spanning back 6000 years BC, one whole expect to find rich records of events, rulers, people, traditions, and so on.
We are aware of several tyrannical attacks on Africa by the so-called civilized world that ended up in massive looting by civilized men for example the looting carried out by King Leopold II of Belgium which left over 10 million Africans dead hence giving him the name and title the butcher of Congo.
My question is that the same western countries have come out to condemn the actions of their previous leaders and called those actions barbaric and inhumane but on the other hand are refusing to return items stolen during those barbaric years, should the reward of barbarism not be regarded as a barbaric proceed?

The thing is that when they attacked African villages and kingdoms they made it a point to destroy local archives taking vital information that contains the identity of the people.
Do you see that trend today? take a look at Libya, Iraq, Lebanon, and Somalia and see a trend that is still very much alive and well, at this point someone may want to argue that the times have changed or such actions as were before cannot be possible today, then take a closer look at Afghanistan where 1000 years of history has either been destroyed or simply looted away.

There are cultures in Africa where the historical progression of royalty, chieftaincy, and leadership are carved into artworks, sculptures, and other forms of knowledge preservation, who have been forced to constantly reinvent themselves time and time again.

I just wonder since the current western leaders show that they condemn that which was done by their kings and leaders to Africa in the past then who is still looting Africa today?

On May 28th, 2021 news reports covered the German government finally acknowledging colonial genocides in Namibia that killed over 80,000 Africans and offered to pay $1.3 billion to aid in reconstruction and development but then again no talk of returning what was stolen by the Germans in that time.
The thing is that these western countries are fast to throw printed paper in our faces in replacement of things that are beyond monetary value, even now the western governments still look down on Africans because they believe that they are controlling African leaders.

 monetary solution to African loot cannot be effective but rather a patch that would later reopen, for example, in 2018 the Oba of Benin Ewuare II in a meeting with the British prince Charles requested that the British return stolen artworks from his Kingdom.

The hypocritical claims of the west of trying to right the wrongs done to Africa should be ignored by Africa because it is not enough for someone to break into your house, steal things, and when caught come back to pay only for the damage and not return that which was stolen.

If you want to know what reconciliation is then let me tell you just four points that will be agreed upon by every African:

1) Return all our loot, including the animals that you keep in your zoos.

2) Pay for the damage you caused (our requested price and not your voluntary charity sum).

3) Admit that you were and still are the reason for the killings and suffering in Africa.

4) Leave us alone, you are not welcome in African affairs.

If the west accepts and does this I would be convinced that they want real peace and are sorry about the events of the past, otherwise, all the current actions of western countries are just BS.

Take a look at this African timeline below:

Early history

Nok sculpture on display in Paris.

• 8000 B.C. – Creation of oldest currently known artifacts and stone shelters. Igboland is mostly occupied by foragers, including Bantu ancestors.
• 3000–500 B.C. – Development of agriculture (probably including yam cultivation) and animal husbandry.
• 500 B.C. – A.D. 200 – Nok culture flourishes in Northern Nigeria.
• 400–100 B.C. – Ironworking develops around Opi, Nsukka
• 500 A.D. - End of the Nok culture

Rise of Igbo, Yoruba, Edo, and Muslim civilizations

• 700 A.D – Early Ijaw settlement.
• 800 A.D – Mega-state at IgboUkwu has a complex social structure, produces copious artifacts including bronzes. Yoruba civilization was already well established, based on thirteen farming villages centered at Ilé-Ifẹ̀.
• 900 – The reign of the Kingdom of Nri began.
• 1100 – The Islamic state of Borno was established.
• 1200 – Ilé-Ifẹ̀ becomes Yoruba metropolis.
• 1255 – Oba Ewedo comes to power in Benin Empire.
• 1450 – Beginning of European contact on the Atlantic coast.[1]
• 1500 – The nominally Muslim Hausa Kingdoms were established in Northern Nigeria.

Thanks to the western countries I cannot even say who was king in the Benin kingdom in the years 1200 or even if the Benin kingdom even existed and still thanks because records of successions of kings after Oba Ewedo can only be seen in Europe.

African youths are now asking questions we all want to know and we all want to be heard but most of all we all want to be appreciated without any bias.

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