Photo credit: Business insider
In a historic gesture of cultural restitution, Switzerland has returned three sacred artifacts to South Africa’s Nkuna Royal Family, marking a moment in Africa’s broader fight to reclaim its stolen heritage.
Business Insider Africa reports that the voluntary handover, held in the Swiss city of Neuchatel, coincided with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to the country. It was the culmination of years of dialogue between the Ethnographic Museum of Neuchatel (MEN), the Nkuna family, and South African cultural authorities.
The artifacts, a carved wooden stick, a divination basket, and a bovine astragalus amulet, date back to the 19th century and were once central to spiritual and ritual ceremonies among the Nkuni royal lineage in Limpopo.
President Ramaphosa said, “More than pieces in a museum, these objects carry the memory of generations and the identity of a people.
“This act of repatriation speaks to our shared belief that dialogue can heal what conflict has broken, and that the dignity of every human being transcends borders and time.”
Swiss President Karin Keller described the handover as “a gesture of friendship and respect.” He emphasized Switzerland’s commitment to addressing historical injustices.
The items were originally collected by Swiss missionary between 1889 and 1921.
For many Africans, the event represented a growing global trend toward the return of looted cultural heritage. The move restores ancestral dignity and defines the relationship between Africa and its former colonial powers.
The artifacts are valued collectively at $120,000. They will soon be displayed in Limpopo where they will be ceremonially reintroduced to the Nkuna community.
