{"id":41356,"date":"2026-03-23T16:38:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T20:38:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/african-remains-returned-from-european-museums-finally-laid-to-rest-in-south-africa\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T16:38:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T20:38:18","slug":"african-remains-returned-from-european-museums-finally-laid-to-rest-in-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/african-remains-returned-from-european-museums-finally-laid-to-rest-in-south-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"African Remains Returned from European Museums Finally Laid to Rest in South Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"666\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774298298171.jpg?resize=1000%2C666&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-41355\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774298298171.jpg?w=1000&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774298298171.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774298298171.jpg?resize=768%2C511&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>JOHANNESBURG \u2014 In a solemn ceremony on Monday, South Africa laid to rest the remains of dozens of indigenous Africans whose bodies had been excavated and transported to European institutions for scientific study more than a century ago.<\/p><p>At least 63 individuals from the Khoi and San peoples were finally given proper burials after their remains were returned from European museums. This repatriation represents part of a broader continental effort to reclaim human remains and cultural artifacts that were taken from Africa.<\/p><p>The Khoi and San peoples are recognized as southern Africa&#8217;s original inhabitants, who fought against colonial forces before many were killed by European colonizers.<\/p><p>These particular remains had been excavated between 1868 and 1924, then given to The Hunterian Museum at Scotland&#8217;s University of Glasgow. Additional remains had been stored at South Africa&#8217;s Iziko Museums since the 1920s.<\/p><p>President Cyril Ramaphosa participated in the reburial ceremony alongside museum officials and traditional community leaders. He explained that the return of these remains resulted from discussions between the Scottish university and South African officials that began in 2022.<\/p><p>The president described the ceremony as an effort to restore human dignity to these individuals.<\/p><p>&#8220;The sale of human remains of Indigenous peoples for study in Europe was rooted in racism and used to advance theories of European racial superiority,&#8221; Ramaphosa stated. &#8220;They were dug up and turned into commodities and specimens, displayed under the cold gaze of pseudoscience.&#8221;<\/p><p>Ramaphosa also emphasized that most European nations should take greater steps to recognize the harm inflicted on Africans during the colonial era and should explore providing reparations to their former colonies.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dozens of African remains that were excavated and shipped to European institutions for scientific study over a century ago have been returned to South Africa for proper burial. The repatriation ceremony included remains of at least 63 Khoi and San people, with South Africa&#8217;s president condemning the historical practice as racist.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":41355,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[832],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41356","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774298298171.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-aL2","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":40979,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/five-decades-later-argentine-families-finally-lay-disappeared-loved-ones-to-rest\/","url_meta":{"origin":41356,"position":0},"title":"Five Decades Later, Argentine Families Finally Lay Disappeared Loved Ones to Rest","author":"Admin","date":"March 23, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Fifty years after Argentina's military dictatorship began, families are still searching for and burying victims who were 'disappeared' during the regime. Eduardo Ramos and Alicia Cerrotta were recently laid to rest after their remains were identified from a mass grave containing 149 bodies. Human rights groups estimate 30,000 people vanished\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;World News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774247953972.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774247953972.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774247953972.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774247953972.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":62556,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/three-cruise-ship-passengers-with-suspected-hantavirus-evacuated-to-netherlands\/","url_meta":{"origin":41356,"position":1},"title":"Three Cruise Ship Passengers with Suspected Hantavirus Evacuated to Netherlands","author":"Admin","date":"May 6, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Three passengers showing signs of hantavirus infection have been removed from a cruise ship and transported to the Netherlands for medical care. The Dutch-flagged vessel remains stranded off Cape Verde with nearly 150 people aboard after a deadly outbreak that has killed three and sickened at least five others.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Health&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Health","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/health\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1778063909602.jpg?fit=1000%2C562&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1778063909602.jpg?fit=1000%2C562&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1778063909602.jpg?fit=1000%2C562&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1778063909602.jpg?fit=1000%2C562&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":56491,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/zambian-ex-presidents-body-remains-unburied-nearly-year-after-death\/","url_meta":{"origin":41356,"position":2},"title":"Zambian Ex-President&#8217;s Body Remains Unburied Nearly Year After Death","author":"Admin","date":"April 23, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The remains of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu have been caught in a legal battle for nearly 10 months following his death in South Africa. His family refuses to allow his political rival, current President Hakainde Hichilema, to attend a state funeral, while the Zambian government fights in court for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;World News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776973192799.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776973192799.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776973192799.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776973192799.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":23791,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/former-zambian-presidents-body-remains-unburied-after-8-month-political-feud\/","url_meta":{"origin":41356,"position":3},"title":"Former Zambian President&#8217;s Body Remains Unburied After 8-Month Political Feud","author":"Admin","date":"February 20, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The remains of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu have been held in a South African funeral home for over eight months due to a bitter dispute between his family and current President Hakainde Hichilema. Lungu's dying wish was that his political rival Hichilema should never come near his body, creating\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;World News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771572799297.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771572799297.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771572799297.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771572799297.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":29495,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/ancient-human-remains-discovered-in-underwater-mexican-cave-may-have-been-ritual-burial\/","url_meta":{"origin":41356,"position":4},"title":"Ancient Human Remains Discovered in Underwater Mexican Cave May Have Been Ritual Burial","author":"Admin","date":"February 28, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Cave-diving archaeologists have uncovered an 8,000-year-old human skeleton deep within Mexico's flooded cave systems. 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