Ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Antananarivo, Madagascar's culture minister will be travelling to Paris to recover the skull of King Toera. Accompanied by descendants of the former sovereign, she will co-preside over a ceremony in the presence of her French counterpart Rachida Dati.
On April 14th, Madagascar will receive the remains of King Toera and the skulls of two of his warriors, which have been kept in France for more than a century. This repatriation, described as “historic” by the authorities and traditional dignitaries, marks a significant step in recognizing colonial crimes and the restitution of African heritage.
King Toera was the last independent ruler of the Menabe region in western Madagascar who was executed by French colonial forces in 1897 during their conquest of the island. After initially extending hospitality to the French, he was met with betrayal when his town was attacked in a surprise assault. Toera and thousands of his people were massacred, and his skull was taken to France as a war trophy.
Main Image: An AI-generated image of King Toera. No known historical images of him exist.