Provenance research, a dynamic and transformative process, is reshaping European museums by addressing the origins and histories of collections. Deeply connected to restitution and decoloniality, it challenges Eurocentric decision-making structures by engaging with new actors such as Congolese museums, universities, diasporas and source communities. At the Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA), Belgium, this approach seeks to integrate postcolonial perspectives to understand the creation of its collections and promote restitution as an ethical and collaborative process.Belgium's evolving political stance on shared heritage with Congo has institutionalised provenance research as a tool for addressing historical injustices. However, framing this as a ‘shared history’ risks overshadowing the need for Congolese communities to reclaim their past as a foundation for their present empowerment. To address these complexities, provenance research is experimenting with participatory methodologies that involve the co-production of knowledge.This approach emphasises the active inclusion of source community researchers, whose contributions ensure the equitable valorisation of diverse knowledge systems. By integrating traditional expertise with scientific research, this practice enriches institutional transparency, fosters bilateral exchanges and challenges existing power dynamics.This article explores tools and methodologies for participatory provenance research, highlighting how it redefines the role of museums as spaces for dialogue and social sustainability. Through collaborative decision-making and the recognition of community-led knowledge production, provenance research can become a foundational step toward restitution. It raises critical questions about the process of giving back - how, and to whom - and illustrates how decolonising museums can transform them into agents of equity and justice.
Charkaoui et al. (Fri,) studied this question.