On Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at the Museum of Natural Sciences of Belgium, a historic event took place. It was almost noon, local time, when a black limousine entered the museum grounds and stopped right in front of the monument to an old dinosaur. Tall, muscular men dressed in black lined up to open the door for a distinguished guest. It was the Great Chief of Suku, His Majesty Fabrice Zombi Kavabioko (King Mini Kongo), who had just arrived. He stepped out of the vehicle dressed in royal attire, equipped with all the necessary regalia. Beside him was one of his attendants, who immediately began invoking the Great African Spirits and proclaiming the greatness of the King. The museum officials, accompanied by Mrs. Leaty Liwanya Ngbende, president of Afriqhope, a non-profit organization that works in the education sector, were there to welcome the illustrious visitor who had traveled a long way from Kinshasa. To understand the significance of this event, one must go back to the tragic history of colonization in Belgian Congo.
Between 1940 and 1947, a territorial administrator in the Suku region decided to send the heads of certain noble individuals from the Suku society to Belgium. For years, horrific acts were committed on graves, with bodies exhumed and decapitated. Those still alive, suspected of possessing the “vuka,” a power to control space and distance, were hunted, killed, and decapitated. Their heads were preserved and sent to Belgium. It is unimaginable to think of the horror of such actions, justified by the desire to find arguments to legitimize another denial of humanity: colonization.
More than a hundred Congolese from various ethnic groups suffered this gruesome fate. But the case of the Suku people was particularly emblematic, as nearly 70% of these human remains belonged to members of this ethnic group. What is shocking is that this fact was largely forgotten in the records of that period. It took the determination of the Great Chief of Suku and the involvement of dedicated scientists to bring this issue to the forefront and allow the Congo to reclaim its heritage.
Today, things have changed, and in Belgium, memory is returning, with a growing awareness among the new generations. They want to confront this colonial past and move beyond the denial that no longer serves Belgium. For the Congo, the imprisonment of these human remains is a profound violation of the soul of the people. It is one of the causes of Congo’s suffering. After more than two years of discussion, the path is finally clearing for the return of these ancestral leaders to their homeland.
The atmosphere is heavy in the director’s office at the museum. The weight of history is palpable, and everyone present understands that this moment will be recorded in history as the beginning of a new chapter in the relationship between Belgium and pre-colonial Congo, whose historical development was disrupted but is now being restored through this newfound awareness.
For over an hour, the scientists recounted the facts, placed the event in its historical context, and tried to find coherence in what was simply a criminal enterprise by Waya-Waya (the nickname given to the Belgian administrator who orchestrated this decapitation operation). They were competent, knowledgeable in their field, and explained the details. Mr. Patrick Semal, head of the Scientific Heritage Department and a curator, was among those who played a key role in shaping this initiative, dedicating his expertise and time. It’s also important to mention that this vast repatriation operation was made possible thanks to Lies Busselen, a historian who is currently working on a doctoral thesis closely related to this topic. Professor Maerten Couturier from Ghent University shed light on the debates of that era, which revolved around ideas like how to categorize and rank races. He opened this chapter to explain how science can serve to validate ideologies harmful to humanity. We must also acknowledge the significant contribution of Mrs. Leaty Liwanya Ngbende who fought tirelessly to ensure that this ceremony could take place.
The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on everyone’s conscience. The Chief took the floor to recount the circumstances of these crimes and explain the spiritual dimension of his mission, which seeks to restore the social and historical strength of the Kongo people. He believes that the time has come for the return of these ancestors to their homeland.
“King Mini Congo is on a mission to identify objects and human remains from Suko in Belgium. He began his visit last Tuesday at the Museum of Natural Sciences, where the remains of several hundred Congolese people, originally from the Klu and Kouo provinces, are kept. These remains were exported during the colonial era for scientific purposes. As a representative of the people, what I saw at the Royal Museum compels me to ask the Congolese authorities to engage with Belgian authorities on the repatriation of objects deported during the colonial era. During the historic visit to the Royal Museum for Central Africa, the 10th King Mini Congo, Fabrice Zombi, had the opportunity to view the objects on display from the Democratic Republic of Congo.The museum’s position is that human remains collected during the colonial period no longer belong in a museum. We have collaborated on a project that made recommendations. I know there are political bills circulating that should allow for the return of these human remains to Congo. With this first step complete, the Congolese people’s journey to regain their lost freedom and dignity has begun.”
Then came the sacred moment. In a specially prepared room, the Great Chief of Suku bowed and paid homage to the ancestors. He was alone, and no one else was allowed access. With some incense and special herbs brought from Congo, he lit a small portable stove to ignite the flame of hope and re-establish the link between the living and the dead. It was a solemn and precise moment in the Congolese request for repatriation.
For Belgian scientists, there is no problem in proceeding with the repatriation; it only requires that federal laws be adapted to accommodate this new reality. It is worth noting that the Congolese participants in this ceremony were moved and committed themselves to supporting Chief Suku’s efforts to extend this mission to the entire nation, as many relics and human remains are scattered across various tribes of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“We are working locally with various actors to see how we can restore the connection with traditions, but also to explore how we can develop tourism. There are several aspects to this, and we must not forget that traditions can play a role in the development of tourism. But it’s not only about that. There is also a spiritual and symbolic value. This visit was very important, and at the heart of this journey is the issue of skulls. This issue is almost a tragedy, and the customary chiefs of Congo are asking Belgium to return these skulls, which will represent a true spiritual liberation for Congo. What is your opinion on this? The museum’s stance is that human remains collected during the colonial era no longer belong in a museum. We have collaborated on a project that has made recommendations. I know there are political bills circulating that should allow for the return of these human remains to Congo or to the place designated by their families, relatives, or community. So, we are listening carefully to this matter. Certainly, today, no human remains are on display in the museum. That is very clear for us. Such a practice would be unacceptable. We must show respect for our ancestors—after all, they are human beings. This is the first step His Majesty has taken toward achieving this restitution. You should know that, in 2022, a Belgian law was passed allowing the return of cultural objects. We are now awaiting a law on human remains. Personally, I have no doubt that we will get such a law. There will need to be negotiations and a bilateral agreement between the DRC and Belgium to create a legal framework under international law to move forward. I can tell you that, as a museum, we are committed to collaborating 100% on this operation. For us, our legitimacy as an institution, which does a great deal of cultural and scientific cooperation with Congo and other African countries, depends on the success of this operation. It is the only way we can maintain our legitimacy as a cooperative partner with Congo”.
Source: Office of His Royal Majesty Fabrice Zombi Kavabioko (King Mini Kongo) Source: Adam Mwena Meji Geopolis Hedbo Special Correspondent in Brussels
