This research focuses on how many African cultural objects found their way to Western museums or private collections. Therefore the author examines to what extent African states have succeeded in their quest for the return of their cultural objects and what the inadequacies in the current international legal regime for the return of cultural objects are. Can the return of African cultural objects properly be identified as a human right issue and will such identification present better chances for their return? Also look at how existing international human rights mechanisms are applied in the quest for the return of African cultural objects. Focuses on the specific African countries of Nigeria and Ethiopia in respect of their efforts towards the return of their tangible and moveable cultural heritage. / Thesis (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa)) -- University of Pretoria, 2007. / A Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Law University of Pretoria, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Law (LLM in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa). Prepared under the supervision of Prof. Andreas Eshete of the Faculty of Law, University of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. / http://www.chr.up.ac.za/ / Centre for Human Rights / LLM