Belfast's Ulster Museum says it is open to the idea of returning exhibits it holds which had been looted from Africa and Australia more than a hundred years ago.
It has a number of items in its World Cultures collection which were taken by force by explorers or soldiers and later gifted to it.
It is addressing the issue through a new exhibition, organised with the help of members of Northern Ireland’s ethnic communities.
Amongst the exhibits is a spear taken in 1897 as a war trophy from the Kindgom of Benin, part of modern-day Nigeria; and an Aboriginal boomerang taken by force in Victoria.
Tríona White Hamilton, the museum’s curator of Modern History said the exhibition of 50 items from the collection was a celebration of the world’s diverse histories, and an acknowledgement of how some items had come into the museum’s possession.
"I think where there has been unethical collecting, we have a responsibility to address that."
She said the museum was open to discussions about returning items to their countries of origin.
Also on display is a bronze manila from west Africa, a horseshoe shaped item which was often used as a currency by slave traders.
The museum exhibit describes it as a "shocking reminder of the dehumanising effects of slavery".
Among the groups which helped the museum with the exhibition was African Carribean Support Organisation Northern Ireland.
Raquel McKee said it was important that people from ethnic communities were able to help shape the stories told around the various exhibits.
"It’s important because a one-sided story is never the full picture.
"It’s important to acknowledge and accept the negative and uncomfortable aspects of our past especially now when we are beginning at last to acknowledge that black lives do matter."
