The French-Senegalese director, Mati Diop, who won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019 with her film "ATLANTIQUE," won the GOLDEN BEAR at the Berlin Film Festival for her documentary "DAHOMEY," which addresses the issue of the restitution of artworks looted in Africa by former colonial powers.
"Dahomey" recounts the return in November 2021 to Benin (formerly the Kingdom of Dahomey) of 26 royal treasures from Dahomey that were looted by French colonial troops in 1892. The documentary also recounts the reactions sparked by the return of these works to Benin.
"As a Franco-Senegalese filmmaker of African descent, I have chosen to be one of those who refuse to forget, who refuse amnesia as a method," said Mati Diop as she accepted her award.