Restitution: Community reappropriations and new narratives

Arts and Creative Industries

The French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) and the Embassy of France in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi will host a public discussion exploring contemporary approaches to restitution and the ways communities are reclaiming, reinterpreting and reshaping cultural narratives.

The event will take place in the presence of H.E. Mr David Martinon, Ambassador of France to South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi, and will bring together practitioners working across gaming, heritage, publishing, visual arts and cultural research.

Panellists include Ben Myres, CEO of Nyamakop; Molemo Moiloa, artist and co-founder of Open Restitution Africa; and Dr Motsane Seabela of the DITSONG National Museum of Cultural History. The discussion will be moderated by writer, artist and digital justice practitioner Youlandree Appasamy.

Through different perspectives and creative practices, the conversation will examine how restitution extends beyond the return of cultural objects to include questions of access, memory, representation and community ownership. Particular attention will be given to the role of artists, researchers and cultural practitioners in developing new narratives around heritage and historical collections.

Following the discussion, attendees will have the opportunity to experience Relooted, the award-winning video game developed by Nyamakop. Through an interactive narrative, the game engages directly with questions of restitution, heritage and the return of African cultural objects, offering a creative perspective on contemporary debates around cultural ownership and historical justice.

Date: 18 June 2026, 15:30–17:00
Venue: Dibukafé, 70 Juta Street, Braamfontein
RSVP: By 16 June 2026 via the registration link

You might also like

Help map the future of immersive arts in Southern Africa

Are you a Mosotho transmedia artist, part of a Malawian immersive arts community, or an Mzansi-based immersive creator? Do...

Enter the 2025 Francophonie competition and stand a chance to win a trip to France

The French Embassy in South Africa, Lesotho, and Malawi invites young people aged 14 to 25, who reside in...

Generation Equality Forum to drive Major Policy Reforms and Generate over $40 Billion in New Investments

Heads of State and Government, heads of international organizations, activists from civil society and youth-led organizations, philanthropists and CEOs...

Viva Afritech! Viva the South African start ups

It has been one month since the close of this year’s VivaTech Conference in Paris. From the 13th to...

Let's get social

This message is only visible to admins.
Problem displaying Facebook posts.
Click to show error
Error: Server configuration issue
Twitter feed is not available at the moment.