South Africa returns looted remains and sacred Zimbabwe Bird to Zimbabwe
South Africa has officially returned ancestral human remains and a sacred national artefact to Zimbabwe, marking a significant step in efforts to address colonial-era injustices.
The handover, which took place on Tuesday, included human remains taken over a century ago as well as a historic stone carving of the Zimbabwe Bird — a powerful cultural and national symbol.
The restitution forms part of a broader global movement aimed at returning artefacts and human remains removed from African nations during the colonial period. Many of these items were taken without consent and have since been held in foreign institutions.
South Africa’s Culture Minister, Gayton McKenzie, described the return as an important act of healing and restoration.
“When something sacred is taken from a people, a part of their story is taken with it,” he said in a statement. “Returning these treasures is about restoring that story, restoring pride, and restoring dignity.”
The move has been welcomed as a symbolic and cultural milestone, reinforcing calls for further repatriation of African heritage held abroad and strengthening ties between the two neighbouring nations.
