King’s Posthumous Return Postive – But Madagascar Needs More Than Bones

The French government has returned three skulls – one believed to be of a Malagasy king decapitated by French troops – to Madagascar in the latest step towards a rapprochement between the two states.

The skulls were officially handed over to Malagasy government representatives in a ceremony at the French Culture Ministry in Paris, and are scheduled be carried to Madagascar on Sunday (31^st August).

One of the skulls is believed to be that of King Toera, a leader of the Sakalava ethnic group, who was killed and beheaded (it is not clear whether he was killed prior to, or by, the decapitation) by French troops in a massacre of Malagasy people in 1897, and the others of two other Sakalava people.

The skulls were taken as ‘trophies’ by the French soldiers and have since then been held in the French Museum of National History in Paris.

At the ceremony, French Culture Minister Rachida Dati, said: ‘These skulls entered the national collections in circumstances that clearly violated human dignity and in a context of colonial violence.’

The French minister’s Madagascar counterpart, Volamiranty Donna Mara said: ‘The taking of the skulls has been, for more than a century, 128 years, an open wound in the heart of our island.

‘They are not collectors’ items; they are the indelible link that unites our present to our past.’

She added that the Madagascan government plans to honour the remains in a tribute coinciding with the anniversary of King Toera’s execution, in the final days of this month.

The return of the skulls comes in the wake of a late April meeting between the French President Emmanuel Macron and Madagascar’s President Andry Nirina Rajoelina, in which the former spoke of seeking “forgiveness” for France’s “bloody and tragic” colonisation of Madagascar, which declared independence in 1960 after more than 60 years of colonial rule.

During this visit he had pledged the skulls’ return, and said he hoped that this might play some part in ‘opening the door to forgiveness’ for France’s past acts in Madagascar.

If it helps to do so, the return is a positive, if small, step by the European state.

Also discussed at the meeting were potential investments and loans to help Malagasy education, agriculture and energy, which may have a greater impact on the modern Malagasy state and its people.

But attention must be paid to what is in fact agreed.

As we said at the time:

‘It is certainly positive that France as a state is attempting to come to terms with the terrible acts it committed in its colonial era, and that Malagasy people may be able to take an important step towards vindication and justice for their oppression – and worse – as a colony.

‘And the commitments to education, agriculture, energy and other things in Madagascar are all welcome, and heartening in an era in which many states, including the US, are ditching development funding.

‘However, we should note that some of this funding is in the form of loans, which will need to be paid back, and however favourable the terms, Madagascar is one of the world’s poorest nations.

‘Malagasy people urgently need the capacity – including funding – to be able to create and carry out their own solutions to the challenges they face, including poverty, hunger, the impacts of climate catastrophe (itself the result of activity by far wealthier states than their own) and the ongoing devastation of their environment.

‘But that funding – or at least the materials and skills training necessary to help make these things happen – must come from somewhere. And it cannot be in the form of loans which will tie Madagascar into debt for generations to come.’

We at MfM are working hard to help Malagasy communities define their challenges, and formulate and deliver the solutions to them. And we need your ongoing help to make it happen.

But we also need politicians across the world to offer Madagascar real, material assistance to enable Malagasy people to escape poverty and live the lives we all deserve.

The return of the skulls is a positive step. But it is a small one and does not address the reality of Madagascar’s modern situation.

The country needs attention, and cash, to enable Malagasy people to use their skills, dedication and initiative to lift themselves from poverty. Loans – however well-meant and however favourable the repayment criteria – are unlikely to give the country what it needs.

As we asked in April, please do share this message, donate to our work if you can, and/or contact your political representative to ask for action on Madagascar, its people and its environment.

Thank you.