Some British MPs, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and researchers have called upon the government to decide that they have described as “legislative vacuums” that allows museums and other institutions to capture and display African ancestral remains during the colonial era.
For centuries, African ancestral remains, such as mammary body, skulls and other body parts, were brought into Britain and other pre -colonial powers, often as “trophies” or to be traded and displayed as objects.
There are increasing calls worldwide for such remnants, as well as the art looted, to bring back its communities or countries of origin.
Although some attempts have been made to face long -standing issues, African remains are still held in various institutions across the country, such as museums and universities.
“We cannot allow inhumanization of our ancestors,” Koni Bell said to the ‘Archiveing the Archive’ project, said at an event organized by a cross-party parliamentary group on Wednesday, which was chaired by Labor MP Bell Rebero-ADD.
In November 2024, Ribero-AD brought the issue to Parliament, stating that the remains of the colonial era were listed for sale by auction houses, on e-commerce platforms and social media.
A month before Ribeiro-Aaddy’s comment, an auction house in Tatsworth, Oxfordshire, withdrew the sale of such remains, including a skull of a west Africa people, after criticizing the native communities and advocates.
UK Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rener said it was terrible to listen to the Ribero-AD account, and agreed to further discuss the issue. A meeting with the Culture Minister will be held soon, Rebero-AD said on Wednesday.
The cross-party group will submit 14 policy recommendations of the government, including making all sales illegal “on the basis that they are not commercial items, but are humans”.
The policy brief made by the African Foundation for Development (Afford) said that the government should close flaws in the Human Tissue Act 2004, which covers the removal, storage, use and disposal of human tissue.
However, the Act does not cover activities related to the remains of those who died a century ago, which excludes most ancestral remains organized by museums and other institutions, said Reford.
Bada Talan said that this act should be amended to demonstrate human beings, if done without consent then crime. It was also stated that a national restoration policy should be adopted, a body should be formed to handle the repatriation claims and a collection of human remains should be mapped.
