The governor of Easter Island has pleaded with the British Museum to return the Hoa Hakananai’a, one of the island’s most spiritually important statues.
The statue has resided in the museum for over 150 years.
The statue is one of hundreds found on the island with each statue representing a tribal leader or ancestors.
Governor Tarita Alarcón Rapu met with officials from the British museum on Tuesday to request the return of the important relic.
She said: “My grandma, who passed away at almost 90 years, she never got the chance to see her ancestor.
“I am almost half a century alive and this is my first time.”
With tears in her eyes, she added: “I believe that my children and their children also deserve the opportunity to touch, see and learn from him. We are just a body. You, the British people, have our soul.”
Hoa Hakananai’a was taken without permission in 1868 and given to Queen Victoria.
According to the Guardian, the museum is holding talks about the statue for the first time however it is only considering a loan, not the return of the artefact.
A spokeswoman said: “The museum is one of the world’s leading lenders and the trustees will always consider loan requests subject to usual conditions.”
It isn't the first time the British Museum has faced requests from countries to return artefacts. Greece has repeatedly demanded for the return of the Elgin Marbles, sculptures from the Parthenon.
