SOUTH AFRICA: Human remains from southern Africa's oldest kingdom are reburied after decades of research

Record ID: 456055

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Human remains from southern Africa's oldest kingdom are reburied after decades of research
  • Date: 23rd November 2007
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) CALVIN LESHIBA, SPOKESPERSON FOR LESHIBA ROYAL FAMILY, SAYING: "After 75 years these people have been used for research and other things which surely the ancestors' spirits were not comfortable and happy but finally, today, we managed to put them into the ground where their forefathers are originated from." WOMEN WATCHING (SOUNDBITE) (English) NTLOMO KOKA, DESCENDANT, SAYING: "I am very very happy to actually now to be part of this such very important historical process where we actually, finally, am actually taking the remains of my forefathers who were excavated without anybody being consulted."
  • Embargoed: 8th December 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: History
  • Reuters ID: LVAC5OXD2EFR6T7O7CGTFV7A6OI8
  • Story Text: Human remains from the oldest kingdom in southern Africa that were excavated for research more than three decades ago, have finally been reburied. The significance of the findings from the Mapungubwe site were originally downplayed because they contradicted apartheid beliefs of black inferiority.
    The remains of the 143 people that were excavated at Mapungubwe more than 75 years ago, have been finally reburied at the same site. The human remains left the University of Pretoria - where they have been kept since they were discovered in 1933 - and were reburied at various sites in Mapungubwe, in Limpopo province. According to tradition, members of the royal family were the last to be reburied.
    The reburial ceremony had been marked by disagreements between the many descendants, but they were all happy that their ancestors had finally been laid to rest where they belonged.
    "After 75 years these people have been used for research and other things which surely the ancestors' spirits were not comfortable and happy but finally, today, we managed to put them into the ground where their forefathers are originated from," said Calvin Leshiba, a spokesperson for the Leshiba Royal Family.
    Mapungubwe is a world heritage site located at the convergence of Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa along the Limpopo River. In 1933 archeologists discovered the remains of the oldest kingdom in southern Africa at Mapungubwe and the site has been excavated by the University of Pretoria ever since.
    The Kingdom of Mapungubwe existed more than a thousand years ago and was so developed that they traded along the East Coast with people from China, Arabia, India and Egypt. By 1300 the kingdom ceased to exist. The findings were kept quiet at the time since they provided contrary evidence to the racist ideology of black inferiority underpinning apartheid.
    However, the university now has a rich collection of artefacts made of gold and other materials discovered in the area.
    "I am very very happy to actually now to be part of this such very important historical process where we actually, finally, am actually taking the remains of my forefathers who were excavated without anybody being consulted," said an emotional Ntlomo Koka from the Lemba Cultural Association which forms part of the six communities that came forward to claim the remains.
    The six groups represented at the ceremony were the Lemba Cultural Association, the Vhangona Cultural Movement, the Ga-Machete Royal Family, the Leshiba Royal Family, the San Council and the Tshivhula Royal Family.
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