On #VJ Day thinking of all those who fought in Burma, including the West African contingent, and my good friend Isaac Fadoyebo

BBC News - Martian meteorite: Niger's anger that a piece of Mars ended up for auction - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Africa, Burma, and the 2nd WW. The National Army Museum Chelsea hosts a special screening of my film 'Burma Boy', with chat after with Ed Keazor and Prof David Killingray. It should be great. Book now...for January 22nd 2026, always good to plan ahead...! www.nam.ac.uk/whats-on/bur...

Five beautiful but fragile African landscapes gain UNESCO World Heritage Status #Cameroon #Mozambique #SierraLeone #GuineaBissau #Malawi africa.businessinsider.com/local/lifest...

So was that a good day, or a terrible day, for Test Cricket? I am confused #EngInd #WIAus

“Archive of Lost Memories” by Yinka Shonibare RA. Clay replicas of Benin Bronzes and a bust wrapped in trade fabric of Harry Rawson, who led the British capture of Benin Palace, 1897. In the @royalacademy.bsky.social Summer Show 2025 (#105) until 17 August.

From 'Chairman Moe' to 'Such good English'. American leaders ignorant not only about Africa, but their own country's history. www.nbcnews.com/video/trump-...

West Reservoir Hackney, 7 am swim. Bliss. And most encouragingly, the sky above full of swifts.

Should UK museums display mummies? One institution is asking its visitors for their view. www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/07/02/s...

BBC News - Plaques on slave trader statues reveal wrongdoings www.bbc.com/news/article...

Reports of the demise in the market in looted Benin Bronzes would appear to have been exaggerated. 357,500 Euros for plaque which had apparently belong to André Derain. Paris auction 25/6/25 www.gazette-drouot.com/en/auctions/...

The MFA has restituted 2 looted Benin objects to HRH Prince Erediauwa on behalf of the Oba of Benin. This is the MFA's 1st ownership resolution since our colonial prov project began in 2021. Rooted in prov research, the return affirms a commitment to ethical restitution. www.mfa.org/press-releas...

This is extraordinary- Benin plaque for auction Paris 25/6/25. 'Late 16th or 17th century'- implication looted by the British 1897. Part of the famous collection of artist André Derain. drouot.com/en/l/2959701... 1/3

BBC News - Ukraine war crime trial: A Russian soldier takes the stand for an execution - fantastic reporting here. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Alot of (not unjustified) talk of Broken Britain. So only fair to say that HM Passport office (painfully slow a few years ago) is now excellent. Filled out the form Thursday 5th at night, posted the old one in Friday, new one arrived today Weds 11th (regular service) bravo !

When Frederick Forsyth was sent by the BBC to cover the Nigerian civil war (he on the Biafra side, Martin Bell on the federal side) he befriended Emeka Ojukwu and eventually wrote this v sympathetic biography

‘In 2001, a Belgian parliamentary committee concluded that the government of the day "bore a moral responsibility" for Lumumba's murder. How was the museum mean to broach this episode?’ Jeremy Harding on the Museum of Central Africa in Tervuren, Belgium: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

Thursday night London, this should be an interesting evening, do please come.

Do come to this free screening of 'Dahomey' and discussion. 15/5/25, evening, central London www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dahomey-sc...

In her new book, ‘Frieze Frame’, @aestallings.bsky.social collects the responses of poets and artists to the Parthenon marbles since the early 19th century. She talks to @hekale.bsky.social about why they now deserve a new lease of cultural life www.apollo-magazine.com/ae-stallings...

BBC News - From prized artworks to bullet shells: how war devastated Sudan's museums www.bbc.com/news/article...

A wonderful story from #Gabon on the inspiring woman leading the way in wildlife documentaries. www.elephantprotectioninitiative.org/post/filming...

Boston MFA is closing its gallery of superb Benin Bronzes, and returning most to Robin Lehman, the 88 yr old owner. Complete breakdown of agreement between him and MFA, which had explored possibility of return to #Nigeria. He is 'v opposed to restitution', I'm told. www.mfa.org/press-releas...

#PolicyExchange If you release a big new report 'Principles for Restitution' but are *still* confusing Republic of Benin with Benin City (Benin Bronzes) in #Nigeria, you will struggle to convince anyone of your knowledge of West Africa...arrggghh

Read our letter to Meta, sent last week, condemning their unlicensed use of authors' work to train AI. #DoTheWriteThing #MetaBookThieves - societyofauthors.org/2025/04/04/t...

I’ve read Barnaby’s excellent books and this is both sad and infuriating to see.

#MetaBookThieves are using books we took years to write, without our permission, to train their A.I, and, who knows, make all authors redunant? Copyright piracy. Thank you @societyofauthors.bsky.social

This is terrible. #Sudan. “The tragedy was immense,” he said. “Most of the museum’s rare artefacts, as well as its precious gold and precious stones, have been lost.” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

We are disappointed but not surprised that Meta has used millions of pirated books to develop its AI systems. As a matter of urgency, Meta needs to compensate the rightsholders of all the works it has been exploiting. But what can authors do? Read here: societyofauthors.org/2025/03/21/t...

Me and countless other authors today…😂

Journalism jobs! The Observer is hiring an entirely new team of international correspondents and contributors. It's a genuinely exciting chance to completely reshape global coverage at a UK national newspaper. First up, chief international correspondent: www.tortoisemedia.com/2025/03/13/c...

‘It is going to take a clear, political decision to end what, for national museums, is debilitating stasis’ – the director of the V&A, Tristram Hunt, calls for UK museums to have greater autonomy over the subject of restitution

3 great spotted woodpeckers in the not-so-leafy Barnard Park, Islington, centralish London this morning. My Sunday made !

Elephants and empire- a tragic story from late C19th East Africa. My review in @thetls.bsky.social of 'A Training School for Elephants' by Sophy Roberts. www.the-tls.co.uk/world/travel...

Netherlands to return 113 Benin Bronzes to #Nigeria. "The objects will be returned to the Nigerian government, which will then decide how and where they will be displayed." www.government.nl/latest/news/... (photos @Wereldmuseum)

Barnaby Phillips reports on how the gradual return of Asante artefacts is being received in Ghana – and asks if the loans from UK museums go far enough. www.apollo-magazine.com/asante-gold-...

BBC News - South Africa's WW1 servicemen finally honoured at new memorial www.bbc.com/news/article...

A piece of Ethiopia's Maqdala plunder comes under the spotlight A diptych linking Dürer and Christian Ethiopia likely taken from Portugal to Ethiopia by Jesuit missionaries. Quotes @zoecormack.bsky.social @alulapankhurst.bsky.social @krebsverena.bsky.social www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/01/21/i...

Honestly I'm inclined to write this season off as cursed. Is there anything that could go wrong that hasn't? #Arsenal

BBC News - Mozambique's new president sworn in despite opposition boycott www.bbc.com/news/article...

We should be talking more about what's happening at the British Museum. See my new blog mikepitts.wordpress.com/2025/01/10/b...

If you're interested in the British empire, colonialism & the British Museum...and have not been to the BM's Hew Locke exhibition, do please go. It' v stimulating. Until Feb 9th. (And some great books on sale!)

My latest piece from #Ghana re the restitution of treasures looted in the colonial period. www.apollo-magazine.com/asante-gold-...

The United States will be the centre of attention in 2025, with a number of long-awaited reopenings, but from London to Warsaw to Abu Dhabi, it’s a bumper year for museum-goers all over the world

Thousands of Stolen Greek Artifacts Just Turned Up in an Athens Basement news.artnet.com/art-world/st...

'How do I know what I think until I see what I say?' (EM Forster...maybe). After 6 months of frantic writing, this has never felt more true to me.

BBC News - Ghana vice-president accepts election defeat www.bbc.com/news/article...

Wishing all dear friends in #Ghana a peaceful and smooth election !