It is claimed that the skull belongs to King Toira of Madagascar.
France has returned three human skulls to Madagascar, which was kept in a Museum in Paris for 128 years. It is said that one of these skulls is of the king of Madagascar, who was murdered by the French forces. Not only this, in the passion of their empire expansion, the French had separated the king’s head and took him to Paris. It is believed that a skull belongs to the same King Tora, which France killed.
The remaining two skulls are also from the people of the Sakalawa community, who have been returned by the Ministry of Culture of France. Let us know what is the story of the skull of the king of Madagascar, which France has returned now?
French had bitten the head
This is a matter of era when France was notorious as an imperialist country and was expanding his empire. At the same time, he also attacked the state of the Sakalawa community in the western part of Madagascar. The attack was carried out in August 1897. France made its colony by conquering this state. Then the French massacred the Menabé Kingdom. In this, the then king Toraira was also murdered. After this, his head was cut and taken to Paris and kept in the Natural History Museum.
France 🇫🇷 has returned the skull of king tora of madagascar 🇲🇬, Killed and decapitated by coloops in 1897, then taken to paris. pic.twitter.com/pdeyejgfbd
– Typical African (@Joe__Bassey) August 26, 2025
Evidence of the king’s DNA was not found
By the way, no DNA evidence was found that one of the three skulls is from King Toira. Many years ago, a test conducted for this was inconclusive. After this, traditionally people of Sakalawa community confirmed that the skull belongs to their king. Although a joint scientific committee had confirmed that these skulls belong to the people of Sakalawa, but it is only believed that one of these skulls is from King Tora.
Explained the example of imperialist violence
Now these skulls have been returned. On this occasion, French Culture Minister Rachida Dati said that the conditions where these skulls reached the museum are actually a clear example of imperialist violence and violation of human identity. At the same time, Volamiranty Donna Mara of Madagascar’s Culture Minister Volamiranty Donna Mara appreciated France for returning the skulls. He said that for more than a century it was like an open wound for our country. These skulls are not an object of any collection. It connects our present to our past.
French President apologized to Madagascar
In 1960, Madagascar gained independence from the imperialist rule of France. After this, French President Emmanuel Macron visited Madagascar in April this year (April 2025). There he apologized for France for making Madagascar a bloody colonies. Not only this, France also took the initiative to return the goods looted during his imperialist rule to their original country. However, this process was quite slow.
The remains started returning in the year 2002
When the residue began to return in 2002, South Africa sought the remains of Sarah Bartman, known as Hottentot Venus, which was exploited in the 19th century. Taking forward this connection, France made it easier to pass a law in the year 2023 and return human remains. Such a law had to be enacted because about 30 thousand biological samples have been kept in the Paris museum Musey Day Lahome. One third of these are skulls and skeletons. Now countries like Argentina and Australia from France are also demanding to return the remains of their ancestors. However, this is the first case of returning skulls under the new law.
Funeral will be performed in Madagascar
After keeping in France for about 128 years, Madagascar has been returned with traditional clothes by keeping the three skulls in a closed box. For this, the people of Madagascar and the government there also made a lot of efforts and the French government also introduced humanity. Now these skulls have also reached Madagascar and now they will be buried. For this, a special program will be organized by Madagascar.
Madagascar’s government has planned that they will be cremated with a tribute. It is a coincidence that King Toira was killed in the end of August of 1897 due to the imperialist policy of France and his skull reached Madagascar later this month.
Also read: What are the things of Indian Japan, where PM visit?