France has formally returned the skull of King Toera to Madagascar, 127 years after he was killed during a colonial assault.
Alongside his remains, three other skulls linked to the Sakalava ethnic group were also handed over in a solemn ceremony at the French Ministry of Culture. They are scheduled for burial in Madagascar on August 31.
The skulls had been kept at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris since the late 19th century, when they were taken as trophies following a brutal French attack on the town of Ambiky.
King Toera’s death at the hands of colonial troops became a lasting wound for the Sakalava people, and Madagascar had long sought the return of his remains.
French Culture Minister Rachida Dati described the restitution as a historic event, acknowledging that the remains had been acquired through acts of violence that disregarded human dignity.
Although scientists have confirmed the Sakalava origins of the skulls, it is presumed—rather than conclusively proven—that one of them belongs to King Toera.
The move also reflects a shift in French policy. A law passed in late 2023 now allows human remains held in public collections to be returned without the lengthy parliamentary procedures previously required.
During his April visit to Madagascar, President Emmanuel Macron called the handover an important step toward reconciliation, framing it as part of France’s responsibility to address painful episodes of its colonial past.
The restitution is expected to strengthen cultural ties between the two nations while offering symbolic closure to a community that has waited more than a century for justice.