Is taking African artwork from a European museum a political act, or a criminal one? That is the question a French court is considering this week at the trial of a Congolese activist who wants his country’s art returned. It belongs to us! shouted a Black woman watching the trial. She began to cry and then left the trial after a museum lawyer said the art belongs to the French state. The Quai Branly Museum in Paris holds thousands of artworks from former colonies in African and Asia. Many of the valuable artworks were taken by colonial officials and brought to French museums. Congo-born Emery Mwazulu Diyabanza and four other activists are facing trial for attempted stealing. They tried to remove a 19th century African funeral pole from the museum. In June, they livestreamed the act on Facebook which they said was a protest. Guards quickly stopped them. The activists argue that they never planned to steal the work. They wanted to call attention to its where it came from, they said. At the trial, however, behind every question and answer were the bigger questions. How should former colonial rulers make up for their mistakes? Who really “owns” the artworks? The questions took on new urgency after this year's international protests against racial injustice.
Title: France Wonders: Who Owns Colonial Art?
Content: <div id='article-page'><div id='article-content' data-media-url='//news-app-staging.s3.amazonaws.com' data-base-url='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4568/C.wav' data-capture-url='//staging.analytics.lingraphica.com/events/capture_news' data-article-title='France Wonders: Who Owns Colonial Art?' data-article-id='5095'><script src='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/javascripts/getscripts.js'></script><link rel='stylesheet' href='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/stylesheets/article.css' type='text/css' /><div class='article'><p><span data-start-time='0' data-end-time='12146'>Is taking African artwork from a European museum a political act, or a criminal one?</span> <span data-start-time='12146' data-end-time='26833'>That is the question a French court is considering this week at the trial of a Congolese activist who wants his country’s art returned.</span> <span data-start-time='26833' data-end-time='33646'>It belongs to us! shouted a Black woman watching the trial.</span> <span data-start-time='33646' data-end-time='45021'>She began to cry and then left the trial after a museum lawyer said the art belongs to the French state.</span> <span data-start-time='45021' data-end-time='57083'>The Quai Branly Museum in Paris holds thousands of artworks from former colonies in African and Asia.</span> <span data-start-time='57083' data-end-time='66021'>Many of the valuable artworks were taken by colonial officials and brought to French museums.</span> <span data-start-time='66021' data-end-time='77438'>Congo-born Emery Mwazulu Diyabanza and four other activists are facing trial for attempted stealing.</span> <span data-start-time='77438' data-end-time='85854'>They tried to remove a 19th century African funeral pole from the museum.</span> <span data-start-time='85854' data-end-time='94688'> In June, they livestreamed the act on Facebook which they said was a protest.</span> <span data-start-time='94688' data-end-time='97792'>Guards quickly stopped them.</span> <span data-start-time='97792' data-end-time='103875'>The activists argue that they never planned to steal the work.</span> <span data-start-time='103875' data-end-time='108938'> They wanted to call attention to its where it came from, they said.</span> <span data-start-time='108938' data-end-time='117146'>At the trial, however, behind every question and answer were the bigger questions.</span> <span data-start-time='117146' data-end-time='123167'>How should former colonial rulers make up for their mistakes?</span> <span data-start-time='123167' data-end-time='127021'>Who really “owns” the artworks?</span> <span data-start-time='127021' data-end-time='137625'>The questions took on new urgency after this year's international protests against racial injustice.</span> </p></div><div class='control-buttons-sticky' style='display:none;'><div class='control-buttons'><button title='Back' class='back' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Play' class='play' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Pause' class='pause' style='display:none;'></button><button title='Forward' class='forward' disabled='disabled'></button><button class='finished-reading' style='display:none;'>Done</button></div></div></div><div id='article-media'><div id='media-image'><img src='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4568/C.jpg'/></div></div><div id='question-content' style='display:none;'><div class='vocabulary_question question-container' data-question-id=15991 data-hint-location='117146' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4568/what_is_colonial_rule.wav'>What is colonial rule?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='when a nation takes control of other lands, regions, or territories outside of its borders '><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4568/when_a_nation_takes_control_of_other_lands_regions_or_territories_outside_of_its_borders_.wav'><span>when a nation takes control of other lands, regions, or territories outside of its borders </span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4568/a_type_of_interior_decorating.wav'><span>a type of interior decorating</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4568/the_celebration_of_thanksgiving_in_other_countries.wav'><span>the celebration of Thanksgiving in other countries</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4568/a_british_holiday.wav'><span>a British holiday</span></div></div></div><div class='multiple_choice_question question-container' data-question-id=15992 data-hint-location='12146' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4568/where_is_trial_regarding_ownership_of_artwork_being_held.wav'>Where is trial regarding ownership of artwork being held?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='France'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4568/france.wav'><span>France</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4568/sweden.wav'><span>Sweden</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4568/republic_of_the_congo.wav'><span>Republic of the Congo</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4568/germany.wav'><span>Germany</span></div></div></div><div class='sentence_completion_question question-container' data-question-id=15993 data-hint-location='123167' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4568/this_article_asks_who_really_owns_the__blank_.wav'>This article asks who really owns the <span class='blank'>artwork</span>.</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='artwork'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4568/artwork.wav'><span>artwork</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4568/roads.wav'><span>roads</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4568/publishing_rights.wav'><span>publishing rights</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4568/stock_market.wav'><span>stock market</span></div></div></div><div class='question-buttons'><button class='skip-button'></button><button class='hint-button'></button><button class='speak-button'></button></div></div></div>
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