How do museums influence what visitors believe about Africa?
Curators’ choices, particularly what is left unexplained, can shape perceptions of African cultures and histories through a continuation of false narrative and beliefs. If curated works of are are unexplained or inappropriately labeled, then the potential for the viewer to perpetuate stories from the media is high. When interpreting objects acquired during colonial rule I think museums should be required to report extensive research on the piece they are showing, more than just the date and location. 

What is the difference between repatriation, restitution, and reparation—and why do those distinctions matter?

I thought about how I might define these words for my students. Repatriation is when you return something (or someone) back to its original home. Restitution is returning something back to the person who should have it, or paying money to fix something that you broke. Reparation is similar to apologizing (often with money), but on a much larger scale and for much larger “wrongs”. Simply returning an object to its country or community of origin does not seem sufficient on its own. I’m having trouble thinking about what actions might be sufficient in addressing the ways through which African cultural materials entered Western museums. The podcast referred to it as exploitation. 

Who should have the authority to decide the future of African cultural heritage held in museums abroad?
I think descendants of the original owners of any given piece of work or art should have the authority to decide the future of African cultural heritage in museums abroad.