11/10/2026
Black History Month | They Return as Ancestors - A Film About Repatriation, Heritage and Reconnection
As we mark Black History Month this October, we're pleased to share They Return as Ancestors, a film documenting the repatriation of 45 cultural objects from Brighton & Hove Museums to Botswana in May 2026.
The film, developed in collaboration with the University of Sussex and the Khama III Memorial Museum in Serowe, explores the history of the collection, the significance of its return and the importance of international partnerships in addressing the legacies of historic collecting practices.
The objects, originally collected by Reverend William Charles Willoughby in the late 19th century, had been held in Brighton since 1899, separated from the communities and cultural knowledge systems that had given them meaning.
Through the Making African Connections project, Brighton & Hove Museums worked alongside the Khama III Memorial Museum between 2019 and 2021 to research the collection and improve access to its history.
In 2022, the Khama III Memorial Museum formally requested the repatriation of 45 objects. Their return in May 2026 marked an important milestone in this partnership.
The project also supported the opening of a permanent exhibition in Serowe, alongside a cultural festival and a two-day summit bringing together heritage professionals, researchers and community representatives.
Now available to watch on our website, They Return as Ancestors offers an opportunity to reflect on the relationship between museums, cultural identity and the communities whose histories they hold.
During Black History Month, we hope this film will encourage further conversations about African heritage, shared research and the responsibilities of museums in caring for collections.
Watch the film and discover the story behind the repatriation:
https://brightonmuseums.org.uk/discovery/history-stories/making-connections-our-past-our-identity/
