South Africa has repatriated the last of Zimbabwe’s historic soapstone birds along with eight ancestral human remains, a move Harare says marks milestone progress in reclaiming cultural heritage taken during the colonial era.
The handover took place on Tuesday and is being hailed by both governments as a significant act of restitution and regional solidarity.
Zimbabwean officials said the return of the ancestral remains – some taken from graves and stored in institutions for over a century – restores dignity to families and communities whose histories were erased through colonial documentation.
Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Paul Damasane said the gesture reflected deep historical ties between Zimbabwe and South Africa and aligns with international frameworks, including UNESCO conventions and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which call for the return of African heritage.
South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, described the handover as an act of justice and healing, acknowledging the painful legacy of human remains removed without regard for cultural or spiritual significance.
He said the repatriation underscores its commitment to working with African countries to restore cultural property taken during colonial rule.
The soapstone bird, carved centuries ago at the ancient city of Great Zimbabwe, is one of the country’s most important national symbols.
Dating back to between the 11th and 15th centuries, the sculptures once stood atop stone pillars overlooking a thriving African civilisation.
Several were removed in the late 19th century during colonial plunder, with some sold abroad, including to colonial figure Cecil John Rhodes.
Since independence in 1980, Zimbabwe has pursued the return of these artefacts through diplomatic channels, gradually bringing most of them home.
The latest repatriation is considered the final and most significant of the eight birds, arriving more than four decades after independence and nearly 140 years after the first was taken.
JN/APA