NYTimes: His Skull Was Taken From Congo as a War Trophy. Will Belgium Finally Return It?

[Helga Do Rosario Gomes]

Quite a troubling article as this involves human remains not artifacts.
His Skull Was Taken From Congo as a War Trophy. Will Belgium Finally Return It?

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/05/world/europe/human-skull-africa-belgium.html?unlocked_article_code=1.p00.7s5H.4HEUBdCqryId&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&sgrp=c-cb


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[Joana Filipa Passos]

Hello everyone,

Of course all these human remains have to be returned, and properly laid to rest. Yet, I wonder if all African countries want to receive these tokens of former oppression. I have been involved in conferences in Africa, where these issues are discussed. It is not a simple issue.  

Joana

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[Helga Do Rosario Gomes]

Hi Joanna,

Good to hear from you, hope you are well. Did I meet you for the dinner that the Portuguese researchers hosted for the participants of a conference in New York some 13 years ago? 

In case of the unfortunate situation of returning the remains of their ancestors, at least in this article the gentleman in question wrote several letters to the King of Belgium but was ignored and later when an inquiry was held, trivial reasons were presented.

Considering how advanced forensic science is in 2024 where even extinct animals and plants may be cloned, it seems pretty straightforward to me unlike artifacts etc. But as you attend conferences where these issues are discussed could you tell us why they are so contentious?

Thanks a lot.

Helga 

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On May 7, 2024, at 06:14, Joana Filipa Passos <jfvp...@gmail.com> wrote:



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