The culture ministers of France and Madagascar have initiated steps toward the repatriation of human remains taken from Madagascar during French colonial rule.
On Thursday, a joint scientific committee will review Madagascar’s request for the return of the skull of King Toera, who was beheaded by French troops during the early period of colonization.
This review marks the first of its kind since France passed legislation in December 2023 to ease the process of returning human remains from its public collections.
French Culture Minister Rachida Dati, alongside Madagascar’s Culture Minister Volamiranty Donna Mara, expressed France’s willingness to meet this expectation. Mara emphasized that these remains hold deep significance for the Malagasy people.
Madagascar gained independence in 1960 after more than 60 years of French rule. The scientific committee will provide a recommendation to the French government regarding the return of King Toera’s remains, along with those of two chiefs from Madagascar’s Sakalava ethnic group, currently housed in Paris’s natural history museum.
In recent years, France has passed several laws aimed at repatriating artefacts and remains, including art looted by the Nazis. However, a law facilitating the return of property taken during colonial times has faced opposition and remains incomplete due to political backlash. Dati stressed the importance of addressing these issues to promote historical reconciliation.
