Open Forum on the future of institutional provenance research in Belgium and the Democratic Republic of Congo
In line with the institutional mission as a research centre and forum for encounter and dialogue, the AfricaMuseum invites you to an event dedicated to provenance research conducted on its collections.
The open forum at Tervuren follows on two public events that took place in December 2025 in Kinshasa where researchers, heritage institutions and partners from both countries engaged in discussions on various themes in connection with provenance research and restitution of cultural heritage.
The forum is a key moment to share the progress in provenance research performed by the members of the PROCHE project and the related recommendations.
What are the perspectives and the role for institutional provenance research for establishing a concrete framework for applying the Belgian restitution legislation?
The AfricaMuseum invites you to participate in the debate and to engage with actors from the field of provenance research.
The provenance research project PROCHE
This public forum is part of a collaboration with institutional partners in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Institute of National Museum of Congo (IMNC) and the University of Kinshasa, which ran from 2023 to 2025 during the project PROCHE. The project was launched in the context of The Bill of July 3 2022 on ‘Recognizing the Alienability of Goods Linked to the Belgian State’s Colonial Past and Determining a Legal Framework for Their Restitution and Return’, and of the social debate on restitution that was initiated by the diaspora.
Partners
Auditorium, AfricaMuseum, 13 Leuvensesteenweg, 3080 Tervuren
(Tram 44 from Montgomery, free parking in front of the museum)
Participation in either part of the event is free but registration is compulsory (see link above).
Meet a provenance researcher
10h30 - 12h30: Meet a provenance researcher; they have chosen a specific cultural good to talk about their fieldwork in DRC or their archival research in Belgium. Only in French. Registration is compulsory.
Forum
13h30: Introduction by Bart Ouvry, Director of the AfricaMuseum
13h45: A short film screening on engagement with the public in Kinshasa
14h00: Forum moderated by Ayoko Mensah, focusing on the recommendations of the various partners and scientific collaborators of the PROCHE project.
16h30: Participants can visit the museum and are offered a drink on the first floor.