South Africa Returns Ancestral Remains and Zimbabwe Bird Artifact to Zimbabwe
On Tuesday, a solemn ceremony at the Iziko South African Museum in Cape Town marked the repatriation of eight sets of human remains and a centuries‑old soapstone carving of the Zimbabwe Bird to the Republic of Zimbabwe. The handover, attended by officials from both nations, is viewed as a concrete step in the growing global movement to restitute cultural objects and human remains taken during the colonial era.
Context of the Remains
The remains, removed from burial sites more than a hundred years ago, were originally collected as “scientific specimens” under colonial rule. According to Zimbabwean historians, one set likely belongs to a tribal chief whose skull and jaw were taken in 1910; another set is thought to be that of a man executed on accusations of witchcraft. South African Minister for Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie emphasized that the items were taken without the consent of the communities involved.
“We must return what is not ours, because we cannot ask Europe, Asia, the West and all other countries in the world to return our ancestral remains, return our artifacts and at the same time keep stolen artifacts by demanding the return of those that were stolen from us. We are an ethical state.”
The Zimbabwe Bird Carving
Accompanying the human remains was a soapstone sculpture of the Zimbabwe Bird, a national emblem that appears on the country’s flag, coat of arms, and currency. The original carving dates from the 11th to 13th centuries, when the city of Great Zimbabwe served as the political and economic centre of a powerful pre‑colonial civilization.
The artifact was removed from the ruins of Great Zimbabwe in the late 19th century by a British explorer and later sold to colonial figure Cecil John Rhodes. Its return comes nearly 140 years after it first left Zimbabwean soil.
- Age of the carving: approximately 800–900 years old (11th–13th century).
- Period of removal: late 1800s (circa 1880s‑1890s).
- Time elapsed since removal: roughly 140 years.
Statements from Zimbabwean Officials
Reverend Paul Bayethe Damasane, Deputy Secretary‑General to the President and Cabinet of Zimbabwe, described the repatriation as a powerful reminder of the nation’s fractured past and a reaffirmation of cultural identity.
“As I called it, it is a reminder of what we have dismembered before and for us it is very meaningful. It is an identity marker. It also shows a strong camaraderie that exists between our own president and the President of the Republic of South Africa, Ramaphosa.”
Zimbabwean authorities plan to bury the returned remains with dignity in their home communities, closing a painful chapter that has persisted for over a century.
Broader Implications for Restitution
The ceremony aligns with a series of recent restitution efforts across Africa and beyond. In 2022, Germany returned the Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, and France agreed to repatriate dozens of artifacts to Benin and Senegal. Scholars argue that such actions not only address historical injustices but also foster diplomatic goodwill and support for cultural heritage preservation.
According to a 2023 report by the International Council of Museums (ICOM), more than 1,200 cultural objects have been identified for potential return from European institutions to African nations, underscoring the scale of the ongoing dialogue.
For readers interested in following developments, reliable updates are provided by:
- BBC News – South Africa returns Zimbabwe remains
- Reuters – Artifact and remains repatriated
- South African Government Press Release
As nations continue to confront the legacies of colonialism, the return of these remains and the Zimbabwe Bird serves as a tangible example of how moral responsibility, diplomatic cooperation, and respect for cultural heritage can intersect to heal historic wounds.
