The Return of Ngadji: A sacred drum stolen from the Pokomo people

Between 2019 - 2026, Open Restitution Africa (ORA) set out to map and document the processes that underpin the restitution of African heritage material from the perspective of Africans actively engaged in restitution work.  Data gathered from 2023 - 2025 yielded a first-of-its-kind qualitative dataset comprising 25 in-depth restitution case studies from 13 African countries. Collated through a bespoke research methodology that prioritised oral history and the lived experiences of African communities, ORA worked with case study researchers from various countries to document how restitution happens and who or what is involved in moving restitution forward at a grassroots level.  The result is a data set that encompasses 200 years of African restitution efforts structured into a series of ‘events’ - consolidated moments, occurrences, and/or activities related to the restitution of a belonging or human ancestor within each case study. It is designed to offer a comparative and synthesized analysis of the processes that underpin the restitution of African material cultural heritage. It also serves as evidence-based that can influence future decision-making around restitution structures, policies, and governance frameworks. The case studies are drawn from Botswana, Cameroon, Egypt, Kenya, Lesotho, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. This dataset focuses on The Return of Ngadji Drum. Ngadji is a large drum made from the hollowed out trunk of the sacred mzinga tree, and cow hide. It was carved by notable artists in the Pokomo community, to whom the drum belongs. Prior to Britain confiscating this belonging in 1902 it sat at the heart of authority, spirituality, governance and social order for the Pokomo. This case study follows the various efforts that have been made by the Pokomo community to recover Ngadji and the practices that surrounded their sacred drum. It also delves into the tensions that can sometimes arise amongst community members with regards to the approach that is taken.   Guidelines: As you engage with this data, please keep in mind that the case studies represent independent, grassroots research. They aren’t intended to be definitive or final accounts; rather, they reflect the specific perspectives and evidence each researcher prioritised at the time of their investigation. Because these stories are part of an evolving conversation, details may shift as new research comes to light. We encourage you to approach this data with an appreciation for the multiplicity of perspectives involved. We further encourage you to triangulate these findings with other sources—such as oral histories, community records, and academic publications—to form your own view.  Ultimately, the heart of Open Restitution Africa’s work is to center African voices and empower all stakeholders to make better-informed decisions, helping us collectively enrich the knowledge base needed for the holistic repair of the harms caused by the loss of African material heritage.