This petition has been created to build on a recent petition to stop an auction house, Sotheby's from selling a 16th Century Benin Mask. The petition was a success in as much as the auction house concerned cancelled the sale. 

However, the wider issue of selling, exhibiting and dealing in looted stolen African artefacts remains largely unresolved.  

As Professor Ogbechie, an art historian stated recently "The estimated value of stolen African cultural patrimony in Western museums and private collections is worth several billions of dollars. This rises considerably if the economic benefit of holding stolen African cultural patrimony is factored into the discussion, i.e. the boost in tourism from viewing these artworks for instance, as well as the economic value from their sale, insurance, exhibition, publication and collection".  

An appeal is therefore being made to you to help push for the recognition of the claims of Africans to thier cutural heritage. By creating this online petition we hope that each signatory will: 

 1) Send a clear message to auction houses, art dealers and collectors to stop profiteering from stolen African artefacts and to recognise the claims of Africans to thier cultural heritage.

 2) Strengthen the hand of legal suits being brought forward to recover these looted items.

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