[CPProt.net] African masks returned to museum

[MSN CPPnet (Ton Cremers)]

African masks returned to museum

By ANDREW WIND, Courier Staff Writer

WATERLOO --- Carved African masks have been returned to a local museum after
the man who claimed they were stolen from him failed to show up at a Friday
hearing on the matter.

Judge James D. Coil released the eight masks and a wooden head to Ruby
Abebe, who had loaned the collection to the African American Historical and
Cultural Museum for an April display. Abebe, who attended the hearing,
planned on turning the collection over to the museum.

"The property was Ruby's," said Tom Frerichs, Abebe's attorney, after Coil's
ruling. "It's too bad it took so long to get it back to her."

Abebe loaned the collection to the museum in April. She said the items were
received from friends and family who traveled to Africa over the years.

But Bassirou Mbacke, who sells African art, said the masks and head were
stolen from the garage behind his Dixon Drive apartment in early April. He
said they came from tribes in Zaire, Liberia and Cameroon in Central Africa.

As a result, Waterloo police seized the collection April 28 from a museum
display on the eighth floor of the Black's Building on Sycamore Street.

Museum supporters at the courthouse Friday took the judge's decision as
vindication.

"We're legitimate," museum director Melvina Scott, named as a party in the
dispute, said of her organization.

"What (this case) did was tarnish two prominent citizens of the community's
reputations," she said.

"It's important that the museum be recognized as something that doesn't
steal, it preserves," said museum supporter Anna Mae Weems.

"We just want to move on and pick up where we left off."

Contact Andrew Wind at (319) 291-1507 or andrew.wind at wcfcourier.com.
 



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