By Yadnom Awu/ Asaba
Authorities of France yesterday returned three units of human skulls, an awkward reminder of its infamous colonial past.
The three skulls returned to the Indian Ocean African country of Madagascar, included that of King Taoera, and those of two of his chiefs and aides.
They were part of the victims of the French troops massacre of Madagascans in 1896, in the course of their resistance to French colonial rule.
Historians say the king and his subjects were over powered and decapitated one by one after which their skulls were taken away by French colonial officers.
France says 90 persons were killed in the massacre, but historical documents and experts point to the contrary, with some suggesting that , perhaps, hundreds were murdered in cold blood during the colonial war.
The skulls were taken to France and had been kept in the French Museum of African History, where other art, artefacts and other cultural items inappropriately obtained from French colonies have been warehoused since the late 19 th century.
Experts believe that some 20,000 human skulls illegally removed from French colonies in Africa , as well as thousands of other cultural valuables remain stashed in French museums.
The handover of the skull of the beheaded monarch and those of his chiefs who suffered the same with him were held at a symbolic ceremony at the French Ministry of Culture in Paris which prides itself as the cultural capital of the world.
The hangover followed the massive protests by rights groups, the Madagascar government and descendants of the victims who wanted the skulls returned for proper burial in line with African cultural demands.
For the ceremony, officials of the Madagascan government flew in from Antananarivo, the capital, to receive the skulls which were in three small hand- borne wooden holders hooded in red cloth shrouds.
The officials are expected to fly home with the rare objects to Antananarivo as early as tonight.
