France has returned a historic sword belonging to a 19th century Senegalese Islamic Scholar. In a ceremony held at the presidential palace in Dakar, French Prime Minister Edouard Phillipe handed over the relic to President Macky Sall.
Comprising curved iron, brass and wood, the sheathed sword belongs to Hajj Umar Saidou Tall, a prominent Islamic scholar who led an anti-colonial resistance against the French.
The restoration forms part of France’s pledge to return Senegalese artefacts kept in French Museums. The French Prime Minister echoed his country’s commitment to restore historic artefacts looted from its colonies in West Africa.
