Category: Great People

A Heritage of Great African leaders and visionaries

So Long to Raila Odinga, Fighter to the End for Kenyan Democracy

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Raila Odinga (Source: World Economic Forum)

It is with sadness that we heard about the news of Raila Odinga‘s passing yesterday, on October 15th. It makes one wonder if, when one fights for the true freedom of Africa, one dies without ever getting in power? or killed in power for their principles? Is one just supposed to accompany democracy?

Raila Odinga has been a dominant unavoidable force in Kenyan politics for the past 30 years, and even longer, given that his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, was the first vice-president of Kenya alongside Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya’s first president. Thus, Raila Odinga has been a baobab in Kenya’s political scene, who has always fought for the freedom and democracy in Kenya. Out of the past 5 elections, 1997, 2007, 2013, 2017, and 2022, he has always contested, has come second, and even narrowly won to the point that there have always been disputes which have gone as far as civil unrest as in 2007, when Odinga contested elections against Mwai Kibaki, which led to the biggest crisis in Kenya’s history resulting in 1200 deaths and about 600,000 people forced to flee their homes. The crisis was resolved in a peace brokering by UN Kofi Annan which saw Kibaki emerge as president and Odinga as the nation’s prime minister. After the 2017 elections, he was vindicated by Kenya’s highest court after the 2017 elections when the court annulled Uhuru Kenyatta‘s victory and ordered fresh polls; however, Odinga boycotted the run citing frauds. 

Flag of Kenya

Odinga always found a way to put peace ahead of his own person, and reconciled with the incumbent; his love for Kenyans made it hard for him to stay angry or be selfish; he always placed Kenya first. He was affectionately called “Baba” (Father), “Agwambo” (Act of God), and “Tinga” (Tractor) – drawn from his party’s symbol during the 1997 elections. He was a former political prisoner, and holds the record for being Kenya’s longest serving detainee. He was detained twice from 1982 to 1988, and 1989 to 1991 when he fought against the one-party rule of Daniel Arap Moi. 

Mr. Oginga Odinga, a distinguished African leader of the Kenya Colony was one on a short visit to India in March, 1953, giving a broadcast talk at the New Delhi Station of All India Radio, during his visit to the Station.

Initially, Odinga, a native of Kisumu, a city on the shores of Lake Victoria, studied engineering in East Germany before returning home in the 1970s where he taught at the University of Nairobi and started a range of successful businesses. He found his way into politics when he was linked to a failed coup against Arap Moi in 1982; accused of treason, and though the charges were later dropped, he spent most of the decade in and out of jail.

To many, he is known as the founding father of Kenya’s multiparty democracy, a master strategist, and a great mobilizer, bringing in together huge crowds and people of all walks of life. To many, Odinga had been under political persecution for his strength, and his wish for a better Kenya. After fighting for so many years, being so close all the time, with one’s victories getting stolen, how does one reconcile it in the end? Are the Western puppets always the winners, while the strong-willed true lovers of their people always second? 

So long Baba Odinga! Thank you for your love, for your great political acumen, and for your strength, never giving up over the years. You have been and remain an example for our struggle for the freedom and betterment of Africa; we will never give up and like you, never back down!!!

King Moshoeshoe I: The First King of the Kingdom of Lesotho

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Map of Lesotho

Back in March 2025, the country of Lesotho was suddenly thrown in the spotlight when American President Donald Trump made a dismissive remark during a speech to Congress, saying « nobody has ever heard of » Lesotho while criticizing U.S. foreign aid spending. The comments sparked backlash from Lesotho’s government and prompted many to visit the country, or talk about the country. President Trump was not totally wrong… let’s be honest, before his remark, how many had heard about the country ?… maybe those who visit Afrolegends and who had read about its capital city of Maseru. Unknowingly, President Trump has most likely prompted added tourism to this beautiful landlocked country the size of Belgium entrenched within the country of South Africa.

King Moshoeshoe I of Basutoland during a visit to Prince Alfred of England in 1860

Today, we will talk about King Moshoeshoe I, the first king of Lesotho. 

King Moshoeshoe I was the founder and first monarch of Lesotho, known for his diplomatic genius, military leadership, and ability to unite diverse clans into a single nation. He ruled from 1822 until his death in 1870.

King Moshoeshoe I was the first king of Lesotho. At birth, he was named Lepoqo, which means Dispute, because of accusations of witchcraft which were levied on a man in Menkhoaneng around the time of his birth, between 1780 to 1794, where 1786. He was the first son of King Mokhachane, a minor chief of the Bamokoteli sub-clan of the Basotho people and his first wife Kholu, who was the daughter of the Bafokeng clan chief Ntsukunyane. Unlike Shaka Zulu, he had a happy childhood which he always referred to in adult life.

After his initiation ceremony in 1804, he took the name of Letlama, the Binder, and later chose the name Moshoeshoe, a name inspired by the sound of shaving – symbolizing his skill in cattle raids and leadership. It is said that it was chosen after a successful raid in which he had sheared the beards of his victims – the word ‘Moshoeshoe’ representing the sound of the shearing.

Thaba Bosiu on the map of Lesotho

In 1820, Moshoeshoe succeeded his father and formed his own clan and settled at Butha-Buthe Montain, and later moved to the mountain he named Thaba Bosiu  or “Mountain at Night” because his people arrived at night, a natural fortress that became the heart of the Basotho Kingdom. Thaba Bosiu served as the capital of the new Basotho nation. One can still find ruins from the 19th century of King Moshoeshoe I’s reign at the top of the mountain; it overlooks iconic Mount Qiloane, an enduring symbol of the nation’s Basotho people.

In 1810, Moshoeshoe married Mamabela, daughter of the Bafokeng chief, Seephephe, who was chosen for him by his father. She became his senior wife assuming the name ’MaMohato (Mother of Mohato – name that she took after the birth of her first son Letsie) with whom he had four sons including Letsie, Molapo, Masopha and Majara as well as a daughter named Mathe. Their relationship was described by visiting British missionaries as deeply affectionate.  MaMohato died in 1838. Moshoeshoe practiced polygamy and is known to have had 30 wives in 1833 and close to 140 wives by 1865. After MaMohato, Moshoeshoe considered himself to be a widower. Only the children from his marriage to MaMohato constituted the royal line of descent. 

King Moshoeshoe I and his ministers

He was known for his generosity toward enemies, often integrating defeated groups into his kingdom. He united various displaced groups during the Mfecane (a period of widespread chaos and warfare in southern Africa), offering protection and forging a strong, centralized state. He also skillfully navigated threats from the Boers, British, and neighboring African groups, often using diplomacy to preserve his people’s autonomy. Due to constant hostilities and encroachments from Boers and wars, he signed an agreement with Queen Victoria of Great Britain to make Basutoland a British protectorate in 1868; the kingdom then became a crown colony in 1884, achieving independence in 1966 at which point the name was changed to Lesotho. Moshoeshoe died on 11 March 1870 and was succeeded by his oldest son Letsie I.

March 11, the day of his death , is celebrated throughout the kingdom as Moshoeshoe Day, a national holiday in Lesotho. The South African-made shweshwe fabric is named for King Moshoeshoe I who once received a gift of it and then popularized it throughout his realm.

Namibia Makes History as the Only Country in the World where Women hold Key Positions

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2025 Namibian Cabinet (Source: Malawi24.com)

At the United Nations (UN) general assembly last month, Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah unveiled the long strides and historic milestones that the country has been making: women make up 57% of the government! Namibia has done what no other country in the world has ever done: the country has a female president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, vice-president Lucia Witbooi, speaker of the national assembly Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, and secretary general of the ruling party, with 57% of the cabinet held by women, including top ministries such as finance, health, education, and international relations and trade. Namibia is the only country in the world where women hold the top positions. Namibia has closed 81% of his gender gap, ranking 8th globally, and ranking number one in Africa. This is an amazing milestone, and blueprint. Women literally rule in Namibia! Like we already said, as has been proven in history, Africa has a long tradition of having female rulers when no other part of the world does. Congratulations to Namibia, and we hope these women great work.

Excerpts below are from Malawi24. Enjoy President Nandi-Ndaitwah’s speech at the UN general assembly below. 

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Flag of Namibia

Namibia has entered a new chapter in its political history with the appointment of a groundbreaking all-women leadership at the highest levels of government. On Saturday, newly elected President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah – Namibia’s first female Head of State – announced her inaugural Cabinet, naming Lucia Witbooi as Vice President and Ericah Shafudah as Minister of Finance. Just a day earlier, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila was elected Speaker of the National Assembly, becoming the first woman to lead the country’s parliament. For the first time in Namibia – and in Africa – a nation is led by women across the top three offices of government: President, Vice President, and Speaker of Parliament.

Who/What killed Mandume, the Last Resistant to Portuguese Colonization in Angola

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Early resistant, bronze plaque for King Mandume ya Ndemufayo at the Independence Museum in Windhoek, Namibia

Mandume Ya Ndemufayo, the king of the Cuanhama (Oukwanyama) principal subgroup of the Ovambo in Southern Angola, was one of the last and most important resistance leader against Portuguese conquest in Angola [Mandume and the Ovambo Resistance to Portuguese Colonialism in Angola]. By the size of his army, he could be compared to Samori Touré, but he did not have the same historic aura or military genius, and died early. No European colonizer seriously challenged the well-organized and well-armed Ovambo kingdoms until 1915 and the beginning of World War I which coincided with a massive local drought. Thus, there are several versions to his death. Below are a few.

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… the death of such a person could not fail to give rise to several versions. The South African version is military:  four machine gun bullets, and death in the bushes. A Cuanhama version claims that he committed suicide surrounded by his last followers, another that he ordered a young squire to finish him off. A third, still believed today, claims that the South Africans cut off his head and buried it in Windhoek. This last variant would explain itself by the fact that the small monument commemorating the campaign which cost the lives of nine south Africans would include in effigy the head of an African, clearly visible in Windhoek. The Cuanhama workers residing in the capital would therefore have associated this face with that of their formidable hero. Currently, the tomb of Mandume is a simple tumulus surrounded by stakes. Relatively well maintained (by the family ? nationalists ?), it is located a few kilometers from the border, to the east of Namacunde, in Angolan territory.

Les Africains, Tome 8, p. 226, ed. Jaguar. Translated to English by Dr. Y., Afrolegends.com

Former French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, gets 5-year Sentence for Corruption Linked to Libya

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Nicolas Sarkozy battu
Nicolas Sarkozy battu

This Thursday, September 25, 2025, the former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was given a 5-year jail sentence after being found guilty of criminal conspiracy in a case related to millions of euros of illicit funds from the late Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. The Paris criminal court acquitted him of all other charges, including passive corruption, and illegal campaign financing. It is the first time a former French president has received a prison sentence; he has also been given a €100,000 fine.

Nicolas Sarkozy, by Zapiro (source Grigrinews.com)
Nicolas Sarkozy, by Zapiro (source Grigrinews.com)

It is no secret that Sarkozy was at the helm of the destruction of Gaddafi, and Libya as a whole. This man, whose campaign and election was funded by Gaddafi!!! I repeat, Nicolas Sarkozy became president thanks to Gaddafi and Libya! This man deserves a lifetime in jail; not even sure if that will be enough to dry the tears of the Libyan people. Why? By his acts of extreme jealousy, destruction, and hate of goodness, he, and his NATO cronies destroyed Libya for generations to come, and not only Libya, but destabilized the whole of Africa with it. It is not a joke… and he gets only 5 years? 5 years for destroying, killing, destabilizing an entire population, and de facto a whole continent? He deserves life if not the other option that we all know!

Excerpts below are from Al-Jazeera. 

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Muammar Gaddafi

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was found guilty on Thursday of criminal conspiracy following a trial in which he was accused of accepting millions of euros in illegal payments from the late Libyan ruler, Muammar Gaddafi, between 2005 and 2007. The Paris Criminal Court sentenced him to five years in prison: it is the first time a former French president has received a prison sentence.

Sarkozy, 70, was found not guilty of other charges, including illegal campaign financing and passive corruption. Sarkozy has always denied all the charges [of course]. He claims the charges against him were politically motivated by Gaddafi’s inner circle in revenge for his backing of the antigovernment uprising in Libya in 2011.

The destruction of Libya: the cake
The destruction of Libya: the cake

… In his latest trial, which began in January this year, French prosecutors claimed that when he was interior minister, Sarkozy made a corrupt agreement to support Gaddafi’s government on the international stage in return for financing worth millions of euros to help pay for his presidential campaign. The agreement was alleged to have been carried out via a network of Libyan spies, a convicted terrorist, arms dealers and millions of euros shipped to Paris in suitcases.

… Besides Sarkozy, there were 11 other defendants, including the late French-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine; Claude Gueant, a former close aide of Sarkozy; Eric Woerth, Sarkozy’s former head of campaign financing; and Brice Hortefeux, a former minister.

Libya, the Prey of the West
Libya, the Prey of the West

… The judge stated there was no evidence that Sarkozy struck a deal with Gaddafi or that funds sent from Libya ended up in Sarkozy’s campaign [so there were funds], even though the timing aligned and the money’s routes were “very opaque”. However, she found Sarkozy guilty of criminal conspiracy for allowing close aides to contact Libyan individuals in an attempt to secure campaign financing.

The allegations first came to light in 2011 when a Libyan news agency reported that the Gaddafi government had provided financing to Sarkozy’s 2007 election campaign. In 2014, news channel France 24 reported that Gaddafi had said, “Sarkozy is mentally deficient … It’s thanks to me that he became president … We gave him the funds that allowed him to win,” during a recorded interview with another French broadcaster, France 3 TV.

Map of Libya

… The same year, Gaddafi’s son, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, told Euronews that Gaddafi’s government had provided campaign funding to Sarkozy. He said: “The first thing we ask of this clown is that he return the money to the Libyan people, but he let us down.”

In 2012, Mediapart, a French online news outlet, published a note reportedly from the Libyan secret services from December 2006. The note allegedly mentioned Gaddafi’s agreement to provide Sarkozy with 50 million euros ($52m at current exchange rates) for campaign financing. Sarkozy claimed the document was fake [of course].

… In 2007, Sarkozy welcomed Gaddafi to the Elysee Palace in Paris. But when pro-democracy protests erupted during the Arab Spring in 2011, Sarkozy was among the first Western leaders to advocate for military intervention in Libya. Gaddafi was killed by opposition forces supported by NATO in 2011, ending his four-decade rule.

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Africans Shine at the 2025 Tokyo World Athletics Championships

On By Dr. Y.In Great Moments, Great People1 Comment
Botswana’s 4×400 relay team celebrating their gold medal (Source: Reuters/Eloisa Lopez)

Africa had an awesome show at the World Athletics Championships last week, which took place in Tokyo, Japan, from Sept 13 to 21.

First of all, congratulations to Botswana which cemented its place by winning the country and continent’s first ever gold in 4 x 400 m relay in the men’s discipline. On Sunday, Botswana’s team of Lee Bhekempilo Eppie, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori and Busang Collen Kebinatshipi edged out the US, the winners of the last 10 world titles, in a rain-drenched race, while South Africa took third position; the team had previously earned the silver medal in the Men’s 4x400m relay at the Paris Olympics last year. This gold victory has caused the country’s president to declare Monday September 29 a public holiday to celebrate the country’s victory in the Men’s 4×400 metres in Tokyo. President Duma Boko hailed the gold medal as a “historic African win“, in an online address praising the team for their performance. From New York where he is attending the UN General Assembly, President Boko added, “I’ll be sure to tell everyone, Botswana’s natural diamonds are not just in the ground, they are our World Champion athletes.” The country finished 5th in the medal tally behind the US, Kenya, Netherlands and Canada, with 2 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze medals. Busang Collen Kebinatshipi won gold in the men’s 400 m, while Bayapo Ndori took silver in the same discipline.

Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet, gold, and Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon, silver, react after the women’s 5,000 meters final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. (Source: Pic/AP, PTI)

Our Kenyan sisters Beatrice Chebet and Faith Kipyegon did not disappoint. They were on fire! Beatrice Chebet triumphed in the Women’s 10,000 m and 5,000 m winning gold in both; she became the third woman to ever complete the 5,000m-10,000m double at a World Championships. Faith Kipyegon came through with a gold in the Women’s 1500 m, and silver in the 5000 m; she has now matched retired men’s world record holder Hicham El Guerrouj as the only other athlete in history to amass four 1500 m titles at the championships. Lilian Odira and Faith Cherotich took gold in the Women’s 800m and 3000m steeplechase, while Peres Jepchirchir took gold in the Women’s marathon. Dorcus Ewoi took silver in the Women’s 1500 m. The men did not disappoint either with Emmanuel Wanyonyi taking gold in 800 m, while Reynold Cheruiyot and Edmund Serem both claimed bronze medals in the Men’s 1500 m and 3000 m steeplechase respectfully.

Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu won the gold medal in the Men’s marathon – making it the first gold medal for the country at the World Athletics Championships.

Flag of Ethiopia

Ethiopia took silver in the Men’s 10,000 m with Yomif Kejelcha, while Gudaf Tsegay took bronze in the women’s version of the discipline. Tigst Assefa took home silver in Women’s marathon and Sembo Almayew bronze in women’s 3000 m steeplechase.

Djamel Sedjati of Algeria won the silver medal in the Men’s 800 m.

Soufiane El Bakkali won silver medal in the Men’s 3000 m steeplechase.

Our Nigerian sister Tobi Amusan did not disappoint, taking home the silver medal in the Women’s 100 m hurdles, her country’s sole medal at these world championships.

As stated earlier, the South African men’s team, made up of Lythe Pillay, Udeme Okon, Wayde van Niekerk, and Zakithi Nene, won the bronze medal in the 4 x 400 m behind Botswana and the US.

Kudos to our African athletes, and we hope to see more and more victories in the future.

 

Flag of Kenya

While at the Berlin marathon, Kenya made a clean sweep with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s. Sawe finished in 2h2min16s to make it 3 wins in his first three marathons. Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third. In the women’s marathon, Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru – also of Ethiopia – coming third.

Speech from Andrianampoinimerina, the First King of the Unified Merina Kingdom

On By Dr. Y.In Great Civilizations, Great PeopleLeave a comment
Andrianampoinimerina, portrait painted around 1905 by Ramanankirahina

As we learned, Andrianampoinimerina is known as the first Ruler of the Kingdom of Imerina in Madagascar, the one who unified the Merina people of Central Madagascar. His reign was marked by the reunification of the Imerina after 77 years of civil war, and he also led the subsequent expansion of his kingdom to nearby territories, thereby initiating the unification of Madagascar under Merina rule. His legacy was followed by his son Radama I who successfully continued it, unifying 2/3 of the great island under his rule.

Tantara ny Andriana

Below is an excerpt of Andrianampoinimerina’s speech, taken from the Tantára ny Andriána, edition 1968. It is an immense collection of the oral traditions of Madagascar collected by R.P. Callet, a Jesuit priest from 1868 to 1881. The book is in Malagasy. A French translation was published in 4 volumes by the Malagasy Academy from 1935 to 1958. The numbers at the head of each excerpt indicate the page numbers of the original. 

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One of King Andrianampoinimerina’s residences within the Rova of Antananarivo, Madagascar

Excerpts from Andrianampoinimerina’s Speech

708.« I see the different castes: all belong to me and all have my affection, he said, and I will unite you; I will make of Imerina a guinea fowl of a single color.»

728.« This is what I will tell you, O Merina: the country and the kingdom are mine; I will share the land with you… to allow you to live… I will give a rice field to each man; I will see to it that all the Ambaniandros1 have the same belly. »

731.« Here is the forest: I make it the great undivided heritage, the means of subsistence for orphans, for single women, for all the unfortunate… whoever goes there, do not prevent them: all will be able to take and act as they please. »

757.« The men guilty of these crimes, even if they were great figures, even if they were caste leaders, even if they were my relatives…, I will put them to death; I will reduce their women and children to slavery and I will confiscate their property… The Merina, my subjects, are like a lámba without inside or back, like the circular and uniform edges of a pot. »

Radama I (c. 1810 – 1828)

802.« There is no other enemy to my kingdom than famine, because one cannot, when hungry, think of the State: the great, then, seek to devour the small, and the small to steal… If there are people who do not work, I invite you, oh my subjects, to cultivate their lands… you will take the harvests, but will give them back their land when they are determined to work it. »

1054.(Excerpt from his recommendations before his death) « O my friends, let Radama be for you a young gosling to whom you will bring what you have conquered… Do not present him with unfaithful reports, do not deceive him. For the King has no parents; he has no brothers; those who obey his instructions and who trust in his laws are his parents… »

1056.«  … and I declare to you too, O Radama, that Imerina is now unified and that the sea will be the limit of your rice field. »

1 « People in the daylight », synonym of Merina

Andrianampoinimera or the Unity of the Imerina Kingdom

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Andrianampoinimerina, portrait painted around 1905 by Ramanankirahina

Andrianampoinimerina is known as the first Ruler of the Kingdom of Imerina in Madagascar. He is known as the one who unified the Merina people of Central Madagascar. His reign was marked by the reunification of the Imerina after 77 years of civil war, and he also led the subsequent expansion of his kingdom to nearby territories, thereby initiating the unification of Madagascar under Merina rule. He is a cultural hero who is revered by the Merina people in particular, and all in general. He is known as one of the greatest military and political leaders of the history of Madagascar.

Who was Andrianampoinimerina ? His name means “the king in the heart of Imerina.” He deposed his uncle, King Andrianjafy who had ruled over northern Imerina (Imerina Avaradrano).

Expansion of Merina Kindgom during reign of Andrianampoinimerina 1787-1810 (Source: Wikipedia)

Andrianampoinimerina was born Ramboasalamarazaka (from the short form: Ramboasalama, Ramboa and Salama to mean “healthy dog” – name given as part of tradition to ward off evil spirits away from a newborn) around 1745 in Ikaloy, in central Madagascar, to Princess Ranavalonandriambelomasina, daughter of King Andriambelomasina of Imerina, and her husband Andriamiaramanjaka, an andriana (noble) of the Zafimamy royal family in the independent kingdom of Alahamadintany to the north of Imerina. His mother’s brother Andrianjafy was named Andriambelomasina‘s successor and was king of Imerina Avaradrano, the northern quadrant of the former Kingdom of Imerina, from 1770 to 1787. Prior to Andrianampoinimerina’s reign, Imerina Avaradrano had been locked in conflict with the three other neighboring provinces of the former kingdom of Imerina which had last been unified under King Andriamasinavalona a century before. Andriamasinavalona divided the kingdom among his four favorite sons; which led to 77 years of civil war and famine. This explains why freedom from famine and unity were very important to Andrianampoinimerina.

Radama I (c. 1810 – 1828)

He deposed his uncle, King Andrianjafy, to take over power in 1787. He ruled under the name of Andrianampoinimerina which means “the venerated or desired Prince of Imerina,” and ruled the Imerina Kingdom for 23 years until 1810. Andrianampoinimerina established his capital at Ambohimanga, which is today a site of great spiritual, cultural and political significance that was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001. The king’s original royal lodgings can still be visited at Ambohimanga. Later, he moved the political center to Antananarivo. He expanded his territory through diplomacy, marriage alliances, and military campaigns, absorbing neighboring ethnic groups and regions. Known for his administrative reforms, he developed civil and penal codes, organized public works, and regulated markets. He also strengthened Merina social structures, promoted a state religion centered around his kingship, and built a citizen army.

Today, he is revered as a cultural hero. Andrianampoinimerina laid the foundation for a unified Malagasy identity. His legacy was carried forward by his son, Radama I (Queen Ranavalona I‘s husband), who continued the mission of national unification.

Ceremony for the Return of King Toera’s Skull

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Flag of Madagascar

Today, September 2, 2025, the three Sakalava skulls with one believed to be that of King Toera, were welcomed in the capital Antananarivo (France Returns the Skull of Beheaded King of the Sakalava People of Madagascar). They were draped in the Malagasy flag, welcomed by several members of the Sakalava royal family including Prince Georges Harea Kamamy great-grandson of King Toera, great delegations of Sakalava elders in traditional robes, as well as the Madagascar President. The remains were then transported to Antananarivo’s Mausoleum, Mausoleum of Avaratr’Ambohitsaina, then onward to Belo Tsiribihina near King Toera’s homeland. The Malagasy President said, “Dans ce lieu historique, nous célébrons les martyrs de la patrie qui ont combattu le colonialisme. Nous renforçons dans le coeur des descendants la mémoire de ceux qui ont lutté pour la patrie. Ils ne mourront jamais dans nos coeurs.” (In this historic place, we celebrate the martyrs of the homeland who fought against colonialism. We strengthen in the hearts of our descendants the memory of those who fought for the homeland. They will never die in our hearts.).

Gravure of France implanting a protectorate in Madagascar 1897

The remains will now begin a 4-day journey of tributes before being returned to their descendants, on their way to their final resting place in the royal village of Ambiky in the Menabe region. As Prince Kamamy said, once the skulls are returned to them, they will conduct their own rites.

One caveat, which we had previously eluded to, is, no genetic testing has conclusively established the identity of any of these skulls to be that of King Toera! The joint scientific committee, France-Madagascar, could only confirm that the three skulls came from the Sakalava people. Could they even confirm which Sakalava group, North or South? Does it matter? However, the customary rites conducted by a traditional Sakalava intermediary affirmed that one skull belonged to the monarch. Then the French Culture Minister Rachida Dati, said, “scientifically, it is permissible to assume that one of these skulls is his, without absolute certainty.”

Thus, the question remains, why now? Remember, that the first formal request for the return started by Toera’s descendants dates back to 2003, and there have been over 20 years of appeals!

France Returns the Skull of Beheaded King of the Sakalava People of Madagascar

On By Dr. Y.In Great Moments, Great PeopleLeave a comment
Flag of Madagascar

It would seem that no matter what we do, there are certain things that always prove us right. Isn’t it amazing that just over 2 weeks after admitting to the murder of Cameroonians for almost 30 years in one of the most repressive wars of independence on the continent, France, whose presidents dash out acknowledgments without apologies, that same France just returned the skull of King Toera of Madagascar 127 years after it was taken? King Toera was a Sakalava King on the Great Island of Madagascar, who opposed the French occupation and colonization; he paid for that with his life, getting executed by French troops in 1897. Our article would not be complete without asking fundamental questions: why did they take King Toera’s skull? It is no secret that the Malagasy people, like the Bamileke people of Cameroon, and many other groups in Africa, venerate their ancestors – was this a pervert, occult, way of maintaining dominance over them? Why return it now, after 127 years? Is it even the real skull of King Toera? In the era of 3-D printing, and given that these same European museums which have amassed so much money over the years from admissions to see these stolen treasures have repeated under some weird laws or arguments that they cannot return the loot to the victims, what makes us now think that they will part from the skull of the King of the Sakalava people of Madagascar? How would we, Africans, tell if it is even the real deal?  And now they say that it is the French government, from the goodness of its heart (under a 2023 restitution law) which has decided to repatriate the skull, forgetting to tell everyone that the government of Madagascar has been asking for years for repatriation! Oh perverted humanity that displays the remains of human beings for viewership! This reminds us of the story of Sarah Baartman: The Black Venus, where it took South African presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki begging for her remains to finally be returned from that same France! 

Excerpts below are from CNN.

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Gravure of France implanting a protectorate in Madagascar 1897

France has returned three skulls to Madagascar more than a century after they were taken, including one believed to be that of a 19th-century Malagasy king who was beheaded by French troops.

The repatriation of the skulls to the island nation off the southeastern coast of Africa marks the first time France has implemented a 2023 law enabling the return of human remains to a country for funeral purposes.

France conquered the kingdoms of the Sakalava people in western Madagascar in the 1890s and integrated the Sakalava into a newly formed French colony. One of the three Sakalava skulls returned to Madagascar, which gained independence from France in 1960, is presumed to be that of King Toera. … He was executed by French troops in 1897. The other two skulls belonged to two generals who fought with the king …

… “I welcome the return of these three skulls, including that of King Toera of the Sakalava people, an origin shared by nearly a third of the Malagasy population,” Fetra Rakotondrasoava, permanent secretary of Madagascar’s Ministry of Culture, who co-chaired the Malagasy-French Committee of Researchers working on the identification of the skulls, told CNN on Wednesday.

Madagascar
Madagascar

“This is not only the repatriation of human remains, but the return of a part of our history and memory,” he said, adding: “We will now be able to honor these remains as they should be. This moment carries significance for the Malagasy people and for all nations engaged in the restitution of their heritage.”

Madagascar’s Communication and Culture Minister, Volamiranty Donna Mara, said at the ceremony that the human remains, including that of “our great, indeed very great, King Toera,” are “not mere objects in a collection” but the link, “invisible and indelible, which binds our present to our past.”

“Their absence, for more than a century, 128 years, has been an open wound at the heart of the Great Island (Madagascar), and especially for the Sakalava community of Menabe,” she continued.

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