A powerful appeal has been made by descendants of Zimbabwean freedom fighters, urging the Natural History Museum in London and the University of Cambridge to assist in locating the remains of their ancestors, believed to have been looted during the colonial era. This plea comes in light of the institutions’ previous assertions that they do not possess the skulls of these historical figures, prompting a renewed dialogue about the restitution of cultural artefacts and human remains to their rightful communities.
A Legacy of Resistance
The descendants represent the first chimurenga heroes who bravely led a revolt against British colonial forces in the 1890s. They have long maintained that the Natural History Museum and the University of Cambridge house several of their ancestors’ skulls, taken as trophies following brutal confrontations. Recently, eight descendants formally reached out to both institutions, seeking collaboration to locate six specific remains. They have offered to provide DNA samples to aid in the search.
In their correspondence, the descendants expressed their deep frustration over the institutions’ earlier claims regarding the absence of these remains within their collections. They proposed the establishment of a taskforce comprising experts from both Zimbabwe and the UK to investigate the provenance of the contested items. The letters emphasised the need for a transparent exploration of the past: “This is not only about the past. It is about whether institutions today are willing to confront colonial violence honestly and repair its enduring harms.”
The Historical Context
Among the ancestors sought is Chief Chingaira Makoni, a prominent figure who opposed the British appropriation of land in what is now Manicaland province. Captured during the uprisings, Chief Makoni was executed and beheaded, with his skull believed to be among those taken to England. His descendant, Cogen Simbayi Gwasira, stressed the emotional toll this loss has inflicted upon his community, asserting, “We feel that the British, and especially the museums in England, should be honest and return those things that they took.”
This demand echoes a similar call made by former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe a decade ago, who also sought the return of these ancestral remains. In November 2022, the Natural History Museum’s trustees resolved to repatriate all Zimbabwean human remains in their possession. However, the all-party parliamentary group for Afrikan reparations recently noted a lack of progress in the implementation of this decision, raising concerns among descendants and Zimbabwean officials.
The Path Forward
Dr Rudo Sithole, a former executive director of the International Council of African Museums, has voiced skepticism regarding the extent of research conducted by the UK institutions. Concerns linger that not a single chimurenga hero’s remains have been acknowledged as being within their collections. “Because people long believed that all the chimurenga heroes’ remains were in the UK, we are now very worried that not even a single one has been acknowledged to be there,” she remarked.
The ongoing discourse around the repatriation of these ancestral remains not only highlights the historical injustices faced by colonised nations but also underscores the spiritual significance these figures hold for their descendants. In Zimbabwean Shona culture, ancestral spirits play a vital role in mediating prayers to the divine. Gwasira articulated this sentiment poignantly: “We are suffering because until those ancestors return to us, then we have no access to the Lord.”
The Institutional Responses
In response to the ongoing calls for accountability, a spokesperson for the Natural History Museum affirmed their commitment to repatriating the remains from their collection, pending guidance from the Zimbabwean government regarding next steps. “After extensive research, we found no evidence to suggest that the remains are those of named individuals or are associated with particular historical episodes,” they stated, adding that they have not identified any other ancestral remains from Zimbabwe within their holdings.
The University of Cambridge has also reached out to the affected families, with the vice-chancellor expressing condolences for their profound grief and uncertainty regarding the Duckworth Collection, which reportedly does not include any of the first chimurenga heroes’ remains.
Why it Matters
The campaign for the return of Zimbabwean ancestral remains is emblematic of a broader reckoning with colonial legacies and the ongoing impacts of historical injustices. This pursuit is not merely about repatriating physical artefacts; it is fundamentally about restoring dignity and agency to communities whose histories have been marred by exploitation. As global conversations around reparations gain momentum, the resolution of these issues may pave the way for healing and reconciliation, fostering a deeper understanding of the responsibilities that modern institutions bear towards the cultures and peoples they have long displaced.
