Or heads will roll

The BBC reports today that the Dutch have handed over the formaldehyde-preserved head of an Ahanta (one of Ghana's Akan ethnic groups) king, who was executed in 1830 by Dutch colonists for the murder of two Dutch officials, to representatives of the Ahanta group. Apparently it was just calmly sitting--for 170 years--in a glass jar filled with formaldehyde at the Leiden University Medical Centre.

Here's a snippet from the article:

Several Ghanaian traditional leaders - including a descendant of the king - held an emotional ritual during the handover at the Dutch foreign ministry.

AFP news agency reported that they poured alcohol on the floor of the conference room while invoking the chief's spirit.

The Dutch guy in the BBC picture is looking a bit squeamish; I'm hoping he's not opening the jar. As a side note, I think I've been in that room in the Dutch Foreign Ministry. Luckily, though, there were no formaldehyde-preserved heads or other oddities on the occasion of that visit.

We'll see how the Ghanaian media covers the return of the head to Ghana. I'm sure there will be some priceless headlines tomorrow.