Trans-Atlantic Migrations of 19th and 20th Century African Arts: Gains and Perils

ABSTRACT: The trans-Atlantic migration of African arts in the 19th and 20th centuries was a complex historical process that profoundly reshaped global artistic landscapes. Driven by colonial expansion, trade, and globalization, this movement led to the widespread displacement of African cultural artifacts to Europe and North America, fostering global recognition of African aesthetics and influencing Western modernist movements like Cubism, Surrealism, and Expressionism. However, it also resulted in significant cultural losses for African societies, as sacred and symbolic objects were removed from their original contexts, disrupting traditional practices and commodifying African heritage. This article critically explores both the benefits and consequences of these migrations, highlighting how African art inspired diasporic creativity and resistance while also becoming entangled in colonial exploitation and cultural appropriation. It further examines contemporary efforts to reclaim and repatriate African art, emphasizing the roles of museums, scholars, and digital archives in restoring cultural agency to African communities. Through historical analysis and scholarly discourse, the study underscores the enduring global significance of African art and the ethical imperatives of restitution and preservation.

KEYWORDS: African arts, Migration, Repatriation, Museum, Heritage, Culture and Identity, Colonialism