Belgian royals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and King Phillipe returns a looted mask

The first of approximately 84,000 artefacts looted during the colonial era that Belgium has agreed to return has been handed over to the Democratic Republic of the Congo by King Philippe.

It is a Kakungu mask that was previously displayed at Belgium’s Royal Museum for Central Africa.

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde are in the Democratic Republic of the Congo at the invitation of President Félix Tshisekedi.

Belgium’s colonial record in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was one of the most brutal in Africa.

The Suku community from the country’s south-west used the newly returned mask during healing ceremonies.

It was purchased by an art dealer 70 years ago and displayed at the Belgian museum.

The object was on “indefinite loan” to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to King Phillipe.

“I wanted to return to you this exceptional work during our visit to the National Museum and in your presence so that Congolese could discover and admire it,” the king said.

“It represents the symbolic start of the reinforcement of cultural collaboration between Belgium and Congo,” he added.

Many more artefacts will be returned from the Royal Museum for Central Africa, where nearly 70% of the artefacts were confiscated during the colonial period.

Following the handover, an agreement was signed to begin cultural collaboration between the National Museum of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Royal Museum for Central Africa, but the details have not been made public.