Genocide skulls to be repatriated

REPATRIATED skulls of Nama and Ovaherero genocide victims are being stored behind closed doors at the National Museum of Namibia.

Director of national heritage and culture in the education ministry, Ester Mwoombola-Goagoses said the skulls were being stored in line with international best practice for handling human remains.

She was responding to claims last week by the Ovaherero Genocide Foundation’s chairperson, Utjiua Muinjangue, who said promises had been made to put the skulls on display at the Independence Memorial Museum in central Windhoek, instead of letting them collect dust in some storeroom.

Mwoombola-Goagoses said the skulls were being kept in a specially-created room at the museum, and could be viewed by anyone who makes an appointment.

“The skulls cannot just be put on display. Where in the world have you seen that? Even Ethiopia uses replicas. These are people who died,” she stressed. Mwoombola-Goagoses said she was not aware of promises to put the skulls on display, but that it was decided that when the skulls were repatriated, they would be taken to the National Museum. Muinjangue, speaking on behalf of paramount chief Vekuii Rukoro last week, revealed that Nama/Herero skulls were also found to be on display at the American Museum of Natural History, and that it was decided that they should remain there.

Earlier this week, Jefta Nguherimo of the American-based Ovaherero, Mbanderu and Nama Genocide Institute, issued a statement in which he said they had viewed the remains at the museum.

Contrary to Rukoro’s statement, Nguherimo’s statement said the American Museum of Natural History had been informed of plans to have the skulls returned to Namibia.

“Once so returned to the rightful Namibian people, the remains shall then be placed in a dignified and suitable place, such as a museum dedicated to these genocides, for example. The museum’s authority expressed its willingness to work with the delegation and the affected communities to make this possible in a timely manner,” reads the statement.

There are eight skulls at the American Museum of Natural History, of which two have been identified as Ovaherero, two as Hai//om San, one as Nama and one as Damara, whilst the other two are of unknown origin.

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