Madagascar on Tuesday held a ceremony to mark the return of three human skulls taken by France 128 years ago, including one believed to belong to a Malagasy king executed by French troops in the 19th century.
The remains were handed over in Paris on 27 August, the first such return since France passed a law in 2023 allowing the repatriation of human remains acquired during its colonial rule.
The skulls are believed to include that of King Toera, a leader of the Sakalava people, who was beheaded in 1897, along with those of two of his warriors.
They arrived in Madagascar late on Monday and were received at the airport by members of the Sakalava community, who wore traditional robes. Placed in three boxes draped in the national flag, the remains were transported through the capital, Antananarivo, to the city's mausoleum.
President Andry Rajoelina attended the ceremony, along with members of the government and Sakalava dignitaries.
The skulls will be taken by road to Belo Tsiribihina, on the west coast, approximately 320 kilometres from the capital, where they are expected to be buried later this week.
Taken to France as trophies, the remains were held at the national museum of natural history in Paris, alongside hundreds of others from Madagascar. The island declared independence in 1960, following more than six decades under French colonial rule.
France’s culture minister, Rachida Dati, said at the handover event that a joint scientific committee confirmed the remains were of Sakalava origin, although it could only presume that one belonged to King Toera.
France has previously returned artefacts acquired during its colonial period, though each case required separate legislation until the adoption of the 2023 law facilitating the repatriation of human remains.
