What happened to the Bangwa Queen, the Benin Kingdom’s Okukor, the Namibian Ekori, and the Cullinan Diamond?
In its first edition of 2025, the weekly online magazine The Continent profiled eight historical artefacts from every corner of Africa. This remarkable archive of colonial theft has now been brought together in a special edition of the magazine, curated by journalist and filmmaker Shola Lawal. Each story is accompanied by an original illustration, commissioned by art director Wynonba Mutisi. The Continent has named the series The Museum of Stolen History, in recognition of the fact that much of Africa’s history has been looted or erased.
This special edition celebrates the magazine’s milestone of reaching 30,000 subscribers in 140 countries. Like the magazine itself, this special edition is freely available and can be used for teaching purposes.
Are you curious about the whereabouts of the Cameroonian Bangwa Queen, the Benin Kingdom’s Okukor, the rooster, the Namibian Ekori, or the South African Cullinan Diamond (spoiler: on King Charles’s head!)?
Secure your weekly The Continent via mail, WhatsApp, or Signal.
