In a historic moment of restitution, France has returned the skull of a Malagasy king executed and beheaded during the colonial era more than 130 years ago. The remains, long held in French collections, have been handed back to Madagascar, reigniting debate over the legacy of colonialism, the dignity of African sovereignty, and the call for reparations.

The skull, believed to belong to King Toera, a ruler who resisted French colonial expansion in Madagascar during the late 19th century, had been stored in a French anthropological collection alongside other human remains taken from colonized nations. For decades, Malagasy communities and scholars demanded its return, framing it as a matter of justice, cultural heritage, and national pride.

This repatriation follows similar cases across Africa, where the return of looted artifacts and human remains has become central to conversations around decolonization and historical accountability. For example, Benin bronzes have been repatriated from European museums, and Namibia received skulls taken by German colonizers during genocidal campaigns.