Le Monde.fr reports on the 20th anniversary of Paris's Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, which opened in 2006. The article traces the museum's turbulent history, from its founding vision by former President Jacques Chirac to showcase non-Western art, through ongoing controversies over its colonial-era collections and repatriation demands. It highlights key moments including the 2017 restitution report by Bénédicte Savoy and Felwine Sarr, and the museum's evolving role in debates about cultural heritage and post-colonial identity.
The milestone matters because the Quai Branly Museum sits at the center of France's reckoning with its colonial past and the global movement for restitution of looted artifacts. As one of the world's largest museums of Indigenous and non-European art, its trajectory reflects shifting attitudes toward cultural ownership, museum ethics, and the power dynamics between former colonial powers and source communities. The anniversary prompts critical reflection on whether the institution can transform from a repository of colonial spoils into a platform for genuine dialogue and repatriation.