UK

The history of Britain’s engagement with Africa is inextricably tied to a legacy of exploitation—one that has left profound scars across the continent. What began with the colonial extraction of resources expanded into the looting of cultural artifacts, and it persists today through economic practices that siphon wealth away from African nations. While African nations call for restitution and the return of cultural treasures, many British institutions continue to benefit from the spoils of empire. Here, we examine the breadth of Britain’s impact on Africa, with a focus on historical resource extraction, the loss of cultural heritage, and modern-day economic …