France Returns Historic Skulls to Madagascar, Including King Toera's Remains

A Significant Gesture from France

In a remarkable act, France has returned three human skulls to Madagascar, one of which is believed to belong to King Toera of the Sakalava community. King Toera was executed by the French military in 1897, and his head was subsequently severed and transported to Paris, where it remained in a museum for 128 years.

The French military invaded the Menabe state in Madagascar in August 1897 as part of their colonial ambitions, leading to a tragic massacre in the Sakalava region. Following the death of King Toera, his head was taken to Paris and displayed as a colonial 'trophy' at the Natural History Museum.

In addition to King Toera's skull, the remains of two other Sakalava individuals have also been repatriated. All three skulls were carefully wrapped in traditional Malagasy cloth and sent back in sealed boxes. This return was facilitated by the persistent efforts of the Malagasy people and government, alongside a new French law enacted in 2023 that streamlines the process for returning human remains.

This initiative is part of France's broader effort to return human remains taken during the colonial era. The process began with the repatriation of Sarah Baartman's remains to South Africa in 2002. Currently, France's Musée de l'Ome Museum houses over 30,000 biological specimens, including numerous skulls, with countries like Argentina and Australia also seeking the return of their ancestral remains.

The government of Madagascar has organized a respectful funeral for the returned skulls, which will include a special ceremony.