Why the British Museum Labels Mma Aha as "Egyptian": A Call for Restitution

In 1892, British agents removed Mma Aha, Queen Mother of Ezza, from Idembya in Ebonyi State. Today, the British Museum describes her on its label as an “Egyptian Treasurer.” How can a Nigerian queen from 1892 be called Egyptian when Ancient Egypt ended over two millennia ago? This mislabeling echoes a wider strategy of renaming artifacts to sever our connection with them. An FOI request (FOI-26088) has been filed with the UK government demanding the return of these items and the restoration of their true identities. We are asking: Who authorized this name change, and where is the paperwork? If we do not reclaim our history now, who will? It is time to restore Mma Aha’s rightful title—Queen Mother of Ezza—and bring back all stolen heritage.

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