France Returns Skull of Beheaded Malagasy King After 130 Years
The skull of a Malagasy king, King Toera, and those of two other members of his court, who were killed and decapitated by French troops in 1897 during colonial rule, have been formally returned to Madagascar. French troops took the skull as a trophy to France.
The skulls, stored for nearly 130 years at the Museum of Natural History, had been taken to France in the context of colonial violence. There was no DNA proof that the skull is King Toera's, and tests carried out several years ago were inconclusive.
However, a Sakalava spirit medium confirmed the skull as that of the monarch. Madagascar's Culture Minister, Volamiranty Donna Mara, welcomed the return, saying the return of skulls was a "significant gesture."
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Madagascar:
Skull of Malagasy King Returns to Madagascar After Almost 130 Years in France
allAfrica, 27 August 2025
The skull of a Malagasy king, King Toera, and those of two other members of his court, who were killed and decapitated by French troops in 1897 during colonial rule,… Read more »
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Madagascar:
Macron Seeks 'Forgiveness' for Colonialism On Visit to Madagascar
RFI, 24 April 2025
Emmanuel Macron said he wants to seek "forgiveness" for France's colonisation of Madagascar, starting with the return of looted cultural artefacts. During his two-day visit, the… Read more »
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Madagascar:
Madagascar Asks for Restitution of Sakalava King's Skull From France
RFI, 17 March 2024
Madagascar - Two of the great granddaughters of a Sakalava king in Madagascar, who was beheaded in 1897 by colonial troops, publicly addressed the French ambassador, asking him to… Read more »
InFocus
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French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his desire to seek "forgiveness" for France's colonial rule over Madagascar, beginning with the return of looted cultural artefacts. The island was under French colonial rule from 1896 until 1960, when it gained full independence.
Macron confirmed plans to return cultural items
Read more »
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