• France returns three skulls to Madagascar, marking a significant act of restitution.
• One skull is believed to belong to King Toera, killed during colonial violence in 1897.
• The return is part of a new law facilitating the repatriation of human remains from France.

In a historic move, France has formally returned three skulls, including that of King Toera, to Madagascar, 128 years after they were taken during colonial rule. This ceremony was held at the French Culture Ministry, symbolizing a step toward addressing the dark legacy of colonialism. The return follows years of advocacy from the king's descendants and the Malagasy government, highlighting the need for reconciliation and cultural restoration, according to BBC and Africanews.

The skull believed to be that of King Toera was taken to France after he was killed by French troops in a violent colonial assault in August 1897. French Culture Minister Rachida Dati remarked on the importance of this return, stating, "These skulls entered the national collections in circumstances that clearly violated human dignity and in a context of colonial violence.” She emphasized that this event represents a significant acknowledgment of the past, as reported by Reuters and Le Monde.

The Malagasy Culture Minister, Volamiranty Donna Mara, hailed the skulls' return as an "immensely significant gesture," indicating their emotional and cultural importance to the Sakalava community. He stated, "Their absence has been - for more than a century - an open wound in the heart of our island," reflecting the deep historical ties between the remains and the Malagasy people. This handover marks the first restitution under a law passed in 2023 designed to expedite the return of human remains from public collections in France, according to TRT Global and Al Jazeera.

The skulls, which will be buried in Madagascar on August 31, were brought to France as trophies of the colonial conquest and had been kept at the Museum of Natural History in Paris. The French government's efforts to confront its colonial past have been ongoing, as noted during President Emmanuel Macron's acknowledgment of his country’s "bloody and tragic" colonization of Madagascar during a recent visit, highlighting the importance of forgiveness and cultural restitution between nations, as emphasized by BBC and Reuters.