Archive · 1 Jul 2025
Poll: Angolans, Cape Verdeans want Portugal to return looted items
People in Angola and Cape Verde, once ruled by Portugal, want Portugal to give back items taken long ago.
A survey shows that most people in these countries think Portugal should return things like masks and sculptures.
They also want Portugal to say sorry for its colonial past.
While most Portuguese people support returning the items, they don't think an apology is needed.
Also, most people don't want to get rid of old statues related to colonialism.
A far-right political party in Portugal disagrees with returning artifacts or paying money to those impacted by the colonial past.
Polls show majority in Angola and Cape Verde want Portugal to return looted artifacts.
Support for artifact return is 58% in Angola and 63% in Cape Verde.
54% of Portuguese support returning artifacts, but 58% don't believe an apology is owed.
Most respondents in all three countries don't want colonial monuments removed.
Portugal's far-right Chega party opposes the return of artifacts and reparations.
- Who
- Respondents in Angola, Cape Verde, and Portugal.
- What
- Survey results on attitudes toward Portugal's colonial past and return of artifacts.
- When
- Survey released on Tuesday.
- Where
- Angola, Cape Verde, and Portugal.
- Why
- To gauge public opinion on Portugal's colonial past and the return of looted items.
Angola/Cape Verde Viewpoints
Portugal Viewpoints
Artifact Return
Angola/Cape Verde Viewpoints
Return looted artifacts.
Portugal Viewpoints
Do not return artifacts.
Apology for Colonial Past
Angola/Cape Verde Viewpoints
Apologize for colonial past.
Portugal Viewpoints
Do not apologize for the colonial past.
- Countries Surveyed
- Angola, Cape Verde, Portugal
- Angola - Artifact Return Support
- 58%
- Cape Verde - Artifact Return Support
- 63%
- Portugal - Artifact Return Support
- 54%
- Portugal - No Apology
- 58%
- Monument Removal Opinion
- Most respondents oppose