South Africa has returned ancestral human remains and a centuries-old stone carving of the Zimbabwe bird, the country’s sacred national emblem, to Zimbabwe. This handover occurred more than 100 years after these items were taken during the colonial era. The event took place at the Iziko South African Museum and is part of a global initiative to repatriate artefacts that were looted from African nations during colonial times. The remains, which are believed to have been unethically exhumed for research purposes, were returned in eight coffins draped in the Zimbabwean flag.
Reverend Paul Damasane, a representative of the Zimbabwean government, stated that the remains would undergo further study and be returned “where they belong” once they arrive back in Zimbabwe. The stone carving, known as Chapungu, is the first of several Zimbabwe birds that were taken from the Great Zimbabwe ruins, an ancient stone complex constructed between the 11th and 13th centuries. A British explorer removed this particular carving from its pedestal in the late 19th century and subsequently sold it to Cecil John Rhodes, who was then the prime minister of the Cape Colony.
South Africa’s Culture Minister, Gayton McKenzie, described the return of these items as a restoration of dignity and pride. He emphasized that “when something sacred is taken from a people, a part of their story is taken with it.” Officials noted that other Zimbabwe birds held in South Africa were returned shortly after Zimbabwe gained independence in 1980. The original carvings, which stand around 33 centimeters tall and are perched on stone columns over a meter high, are now featured on the country’s banknotes, coins, and national flag. These carvings are also regarded as sacred, believed to carry a protective spirit.
This restitution highlights the growing momentum for the return of cultural heritage that was taken during colonial rule, as African nations continue to reclaim symbols that are central to their identity and history.
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