The fight for a stool: Bunyoro wants its seat of power back

Nyamyaro, the eight-legged stool or kingdom throne. PHOTO | PITT-RIVERS MUSEUM

The fight to have ancient African royal heir looms, cultural and religious artefacts and objects of art looted in the colonial era is growing with each passing year, as more communities demand their return to their rightful owners in Africa.

Proudly displayed in far off countries after being carted away is a 700-year-old eight-legged wooden stool, the handiwork of the Bachwezi, the first rulers of Uganda’s ancient Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom between 900 and 1500.