Game 'reloots' African artefacts from Western museums
Ncube plays a game called 'Relooted' at their office space in Rosebank near Johannesburg. Relooted is set in an imaginary future but tackles a topical issue: calls for Western institutions to return to Africa the spoils of colonisation. — AFP
JOHANNESBURG: Under the cover of darkness, Nomali jumped over a wall, burst into a museum and snatched a human skull from a pedestal before escaping through a window to the wail of an alarm.
The daring heist was not the work of a real-life criminal. Nomali is the protagonist of a new action-packed video game where players "reclaim" artefacts taken from African countries to be displayed in the West.
Developed by Johannesburg studio Nyamakop, Relooted is set in an imaginary future but tackles a topical issue: calls for Western institutions to return to Africa the spoils of colonisation.
Players are tasked with taking back 70 artefacts – all of which exist in real life – with a "team of African citizens", said producer Sithe Ncube, one of a team of 30 working on the game.
The items include the "Benin Bronzes" sculptures removed from the former kingdom of Benin more than 120 years ago, and which The Netherlands officially returned to Nigeria on June 21.
Another is the sacred Ngadji drum from Kenya's Pokomo community, which was confiscated by British colonial authorities in 1902.
"Its removal destabilised the community," Ncube said as an animated drawing of the wooden instrument flashed on her computer. Players "can see where it's from... and read about the history," she said, giving a demo.
'Is it stealing?'
On the screen a crew of characters in Afrofuturist costumes debated a plan to recover the remains of Tanzanian chiefs hanged by German colonial forces.
One asked: "Is it stealing to take back what was stolen?"
"We are going to do whatever it takes to take back Africa's belongings, and we are going to do it together," said the character Nomali.
"Sometimes the stories behind these (artefacts) are actually very upsetting," Ncube told AFP. "It makes you see how much colonialism has affected... and shaped the world."
Growing up in Zambia, she knew of her country's iconic "Broken Hill Man", a skull about 300,000 years old held in London's Natural History Museum and which is also featured in Relooted .
But it was only when working on the game that Ncube realised how many African cultural artefacts were held abroad, she said.
In France alone, museums stored about 90,000 objects from sub-Saharan Africa, according to a 2018 report commissioned by the government.
"Africans, to actually see these things that are part of their own culture, have to get a visa, pay for flights and go to a European country," Ncube said. "My whole life, I've never seen 'Broken Hill Man'."
Skewed identity
The looting of artefacts over centuries robbed communities of their "archives" and "knowledge systems", said Samba Yonga, co-founder of the digital Museum of Women's History in Zambia.
"Our history predates colonisation by millennia," she told AFP, but many people "don't even realise that we have a skewed sense of self and identity."
Reclaiming these objects would enable "a shift in how the next generation views their culture and identity," she said.
The same hope underpinned Relooted , which was unveiled this month at Los Angeles's Summer Game Fest where it attracted a lot of interest from the diaspora and other Africans, Ncube said.
"I hope that the game encourages people from other African countries to want to tell their own stories and bring these things to light," she said.
One character felt personal for the producer: Professor Grace, Nomali's grandmother and described as "the brains behind the mission".
"I started seeing my own grandmother in her," Ncube said with emotion. "She represents a connection between our generations, fighting for the same thing we've always been fighting for." – AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
MPO steps up its efforts to elevate Malay heritage music
Under the baton of conductor Ahmad Muriz, the 'Simfoni Budaya II' performance on July 5 will bring classic Malay songs to life as the MPO presents joget, asli and zapin in rich symphonic form. Photo: The Star/Ong Soon Hin In the heart of Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) continues to champion traditional local music as a vital part of the nation's cultural heritage through its culturally-themed programmes at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, KLCC. MPO conductor Ahmad Muriz Che Rose sees the bigger picture – framing Malaysian folk music as an art form worthy of celebration, on par with classical traditions worldwide, and central to the orchestra's long-term vision. "We want the public to understand that MPO is not solely about Western classical music but is also actively involved in the development of the nation's traditional music,' said Ahmad Muriz in recent Bernama interview. He added the MPO is now more open and plans its annual programmes with a more diverse genre approach, including allocating dedicated space for folk music and cultural performances. "In the past, we may have focused solely on classical music but now we need to broaden that. Folk music, traditional music - all of these are now part of MPO's offerings to the public. "We have genres like asli, inang, zapin, joget and others, which are not only unique but also reflect the grace and beauty of Malay culture,' he said, hoping that these rhythms will continue to be appreciated, especially among the younger generation. Ahmad Muriz added that MPO is also taking a community-centred approach by holding promotional performances in public spaces such as LRT stations, as a way to introduce traditional music in a more relaxed and accessible setting. "We want people to feel that this music belongs to them. When it's played in public spaces, we show that traditional music is not just for formal performances but a part of everyday life. "For example, yesterday we held a flash mob at the Pasar Seni LRT station (in Kuala Lumpur). It wasn't just locals who were drawn to the music but even tourists showed interest and joined in with us,' he said. Simfoni Budaya returns On the big stage, MPO will present the second edition of the Simfoni Budaya concert at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas on July 5, following the enthusiastic response to the first edition last year. A follow-up to last year's successful Simfoni Budaya – a joyous showcase of Malay musical heritage featuring genres like ghazal and keroncong – the upcoming concert continues the journey of blending traditional sounds with lush orchestral arrangements. Audiences can expect a rich tapestry of classic melodies reimagined, brought to life by a mix of seasoned legends and rising talents. Among the featured performers is legendary singer Datuk Andre Goh, alongside a new generation of talent, including Mohd Rozaidy Shukry, better known as Rojer Kajol, a familiar name in the local folk music scene, known for performing ghazal and traditional irama asli songs. Under the baton of conductor Ahmad Muriz, the performance will bring classic Malay songs to life as the MPO presents joget, asli and zapin in rich symphonic form. "This concert is part of our mission. But more importantly, the message is clear - Malay music is a heritage and that heritage must be preserved, shared and celebrated,' he said. Evergreen favourites such as Dikirim Jangan Dipesan Jangan, Mas Merah, Fatwa Pujangga, Nirmala, Tudung Periuk, Simfoni Bunga Tanjung, Joget Burung Merpati, Makan Sireh, Joget Wan Lebor and Mak Inang Kayangan will take centre stage. All songs will feature orchestral arrangements by Luqman Aziz, Ilham Subri, Azhad Sulaiman, Teuku Umar and Shahakam Mokhtar. More info here.
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Malay Mail
Stealing back what was stolen: South African game ‘Relooted' targets colonial spoils (VIDEO)
JOHANNESBURG, June 28 — Under the cover of darkness, Nomali jumped over a wall, burst into a museum and snatched a human skull from a pedestal before escaping through a window to the wail of an alarm. The daring heist was not the work of a real-life criminal. Nomali is the protagonist of a new action-packed video game where players 'reclaim' artefacts taken from African countries to be displayed in the West. Developed by Johannesburg studio Nyamakop, Relooted is set in an imaginary future but tackles a topical issue: calls for Western institutions to return to Africa the spoils of colonisation. Players are tasked with taking back 70 artefacts — all of which exist in real life — with a 'team of African citizens', said producer Sithe Ncube, one of a team of 30 working on the game. The items include the 'Benin Bronzes' sculptures removed from the former kingdom of Benin more than 120 years ago, and which The Netherlands officially returned to Nigeria on June 21. Another is the sacred Ngadji drum from Kenya's Pokomo community, which was confiscated by British colonial authorities in 1902. 'Its removal destabilised the community,' Ncube said as an animated drawing of the wooden instrument flashed on her computer. Players 'can see where it's from... and read about the history,' she said, giving a demo. 'Is it stealing?' On the screen a crew of characters in Afrofuturist costumes debated a plan to recover the remains of Tanzanian chiefs hanged by German colonial forces. One asked: 'Is it stealing to take back what was stolen?' 'We are going to do whatever it takes to take back Africa's belongings, and we are going to do it together,' said the character Nomali. 'Sometimes the stories behind these (artefacts) are actually very upsetting,' Ncube told AFP. 'It makes you see how much colonialism has affected... and shaped the world.' Growing up in Zambia, she knew of her country's iconic 'Broken Hill Man', a skull about 300,000 years old held in London's Natural History Museum and which is also featured in Relooted. But it was only when working on the game that Ncube realised how many African cultural artefacts were held abroad, she said. In France alone, museums stored about 90,000 objects from sub-Saharan Africa, according to a 2018 report commissioned by the government. 'Africans, to actually see these things that are part of their own culture, have to get a visa, pay for flights and go to a European country,' Ncube said. 'My whole life, I've never seen 'Broken Hill Man'.' Sithe Ncube, producer at Nyamakop video game studio, plays a soon to be launched video game called 'Relooted' at their office space in Rosebank, near Johannesburg, June 20, 2025. — AFP pic Skewed identity The looting of artefacts over centuries robbed communities of their 'archives' and 'knowledge systems', said Samba Yonga, co-founder of the digital Museum of Women's History in Zambia. 'Our history predates colonisation by millennia,' she told AFP, but many people 'don't even realise that we have a skewed sense of self and identity.' Reclaiming these objects would enable 'a shift in how the next generation views their culture and identity,' she said. The same hope underpinned Relooted, which was unveiled this month at Los Angeles' Summer Game Fest where it attracted a lot of interest from the diaspora and other Africans, Ncube said. 'I hope that the game encourages people from other African countries to want to tell their own stories and bring these things to light,' she said. One character felt personal for the producer: Professor Grace, Nomali's grandmother and described as 'the brains behind the mission'. 'I started seeing my own grandmother in her,' Ncube said with emotion. 'She represents a connection between our generations, fighting for the same thing we've always been fighting for.' — AFP
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Game 'reloots' African artefacts from Western museums
Ncube plays a game called 'Relooted' at their office space in Rosebank near Johannesburg. Relooted is set in an imaginary future but tackles a topical issue: calls for Western institutions to return to Africa the spoils of colonisation. — AFP JOHANNESBURG: Under the cover of darkness, Nomali jumped over a wall, burst into a museum and snatched a human skull from a pedestal before escaping through a window to the wail of an alarm. The daring heist was not the work of a real-life criminal. Nomali is the protagonist of a new action-packed video game where players "reclaim" artefacts taken from African countries to be displayed in the West. Developed by Johannesburg studio Nyamakop, Relooted is set in an imaginary future but tackles a topical issue: calls for Western institutions to return to Africa the spoils of colonisation. Players are tasked with taking back 70 artefacts – all of which exist in real life – with a "team of African citizens", said producer Sithe Ncube, one of a team of 30 working on the game. The items include the "Benin Bronzes" sculptures removed from the former kingdom of Benin more than 120 years ago, and which The Netherlands officially returned to Nigeria on June 21. Another is the sacred Ngadji drum from Kenya's Pokomo community, which was confiscated by British colonial authorities in 1902. "Its removal destabilised the community," Ncube said as an animated drawing of the wooden instrument flashed on her computer. Players "can see where it's from... and read about the history," she said, giving a demo. 'Is it stealing?' On the screen a crew of characters in Afrofuturist costumes debated a plan to recover the remains of Tanzanian chiefs hanged by German colonial forces. One asked: "Is it stealing to take back what was stolen?" "We are going to do whatever it takes to take back Africa's belongings, and we are going to do it together," said the character Nomali. "Sometimes the stories behind these (artefacts) are actually very upsetting," Ncube told AFP. "It makes you see how much colonialism has affected... and shaped the world." Growing up in Zambia, she knew of her country's iconic "Broken Hill Man", a skull about 300,000 years old held in London's Natural History Museum and which is also featured in Relooted . But it was only when working on the game that Ncube realised how many African cultural artefacts were held abroad, she said. In France alone, museums stored about 90,000 objects from sub-Saharan Africa, according to a 2018 report commissioned by the government. "Africans, to actually see these things that are part of their own culture, have to get a visa, pay for flights and go to a European country," Ncube said. "My whole life, I've never seen 'Broken Hill Man'." Skewed identity The looting of artefacts over centuries robbed communities of their "archives" and "knowledge systems", said Samba Yonga, co-founder of the digital Museum of Women's History in Zambia. "Our history predates colonisation by millennia," she told AFP, but many people "don't even realise that we have a skewed sense of self and identity." Reclaiming these objects would enable "a shift in how the next generation views their culture and identity," she said. The same hope underpinned Relooted , which was unveiled this month at Los Angeles's Summer Game Fest where it attracted a lot of interest from the diaspora and other Africans, Ncube said. "I hope that the game encourages people from other African countries to want to tell their own stories and bring these things to light," she said. One character felt personal for the producer: Professor Grace, Nomali's grandmother and described as "the brains behind the mission". "I started seeing my own grandmother in her," Ncube said with emotion. "She represents a connection between our generations, fighting for the same thing we've always been fighting for." – AFP
