2024-10-05 06:15:00
The return of the Sakalava skulls, including especially King Toera, is on track. A Malagasy delegation led by the current Minister of Culture, Mara Volamiranty Donna, met with the French side in Paris as part of a new meeting of the scientific committee looking into the matter. This initiative brings together academics, historians, legal experts, as well as descendants of King Toera.
This event is part of a reconciliation process between Madagascar and France, which aims to address the issues of heritage looting during the colonial period. The return of the Sakalava skull is part of a global movement to return cultural and historical objects to former colonies, a topic that is sparking passionate debates in both Europe and Africa.
During that meeting, the ministers concerned, Mara Volamiranty Donna for Madagascar and Rachida Dati for France, also took the opportunity to strengthen cultural ties between the two countries. At the end of their discussion, an agreement was signed in favor of the conservation of heritage and the promotion of museums, which left a positive turn for bilateral cooperation in the cultural field.
This agreement is seen as a strong sign of the desire of both nations to overcome past tensions to promote the joint management of their historical heritage. In parallel with the work of the committee, this partnership could open the way to new opportunities to promote Malagasy historical objects, currently preserved in France, within the framework of scientific and museographic collaborations.
The request for the return of the Sakalava skulls to the heirs of Madagascar’s ancient royal dynasties has a capital symbolic importance. Beyond historical circumstances, it is seen as an act of commemorative justice, which allows descendants to honor the memory of their ancestors and recapture a part of their history.
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