Bridging Legacies: Multiperspective Insights of Local Stakeholders on the Decolonisation of Nias Ethnographic Collections in Italian Museums

A considerable number of ethnographic artefacts from Southeast Asian countries end up in European countries during colonial periods through many means. The fate of these collections within the context of decolonisation (especially repatriation and restitution) has been debated by many within the last decade. This article discusses the case of Nias (Indonesia) ethnographic collections in Italian museums. The Nias collection is one of the most widespread collections from the Indonesia archipelago, as the island became a hot spot of anthropological and ethnographic research in the 18th and 19th centuries and desired illegal artefacts trade in the 20th century. These artefacts ended up in many museums and faced different situations. However, almost everything slipped from the recent interest of the Indonesian government regarding decolonising (more of repatriating) their collection from abroad. This article discusses the different approaches to these issues by taking an example of the Nias Collection decolonisation effort in Italian museums and exploring multiple perspectives of the community of origin. This article uses analysis of historical archives, interviews with stakeholders, and museum observations as the approaches. The findings show that the stakeholders have different concerns regarding the Nias objects abroad, covering issues such as restitution, digital access, education, representation and community empowerment. However, all are hoping to reconnect with their legacy in one way or another.