South Africa has reburied the remains of at least 63 Khoi and San individuals, whose bodies were taken to Europe over a century ago for scientific study. The remains were returned from University of Glasgow, where they had been held at the Hunterian Museum, and laid to rest on Monday in Steinkopf in the Northern Cape. The individuals, believed to have lived between 1868 and 1924, were exhumed during the colonial era and transported to Europe, where African remains were often used for racial and anthropological research. Some of the remains had also been kept locally at the Iziko Museums of South Africa since the 1920s.
The reburial ceremony brought together government officials, traditional leaders, and community members, marking a significant step in ongoing efforts across Africa to reclaim human remains and cultural artifacts taken during colonial rule. President Cyril Ramaphosa, who attended the ceremony, said the repatriation followed negotiations between South Africa and the University of Glasgow that began in 2022. He described the process as part of restoring dignity to those who were dehumanized. “They sought to reduce our ancestors into objects, but we affirm today that they were not objects,” Ramaphosa said. He added that more European nations must acknowledge the injustices of colonialism and consider reparations. The Khoi and San, widely recognized as the earliest inhabitants of southern Africa, endured displacement, violence, and exploitation under colonial expansion. Their reburial is seen as both a symbolic and practical step toward historical justice and reconciliation.
