With the recent return of the Benin Bronzes by the two museums with the largest collections of African art in Europe, it has become evident: we are entering a new era of postcolonial debate. In this context, Studio Rizoma and GROUP50:50 invite artists, activists and thinkers from Europe and Africa to Palermo to set the foundations for a broad transnational restitution movement. In a series of lessons, concerts, screenings and interventions, we present and discuss artistic and political practices redefining African and European identities, exploring the links between cultural and natural heritage looting, and reframing transcontinental dialogue and cooperation.
At the core of Non è Più Tempo di Negare is a talk series that begins in Palermo and continues in many cities in Europe and Africa throughout 2022 and 2023. In 20-minute talks, the guests present a series of lessons relevant to the Transnational Restitution Movement. They are followed by 15 minutes for the audience and participants to comment and discuss the contributions.
Non è Più Tempo di Negare will be opened by a series of short speeches by Leoluca Orlando, Mayor of Palermo, Patrick Mudekereza, curator of Centre d’Art Waza Lubumbashi, fellow of studio rizoma and member of GROUP50:50, Eva-Maria Bertschy, artistic director of Studio Rizoma Palermo and member of GROUP50:50, Ibrahima Kobena, president of the Palermo Council of Cultures and Lorenzo Marsili, political author and general director of Studio Rizoma.
The opening speeches are followed by an exchange on the theme of restitution and Europe-Africa cooperation between political representatives of the cities of Palermo, Athens, Bergamo, Braga, Duesseldorf, Mannheim, Marseilles, Montpellier, Reggio Calabria and political and cultural activists from the African continent.