By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Newsunplug KenyaNewsunplug KenyaNewsunplug Kenya
  • News
    • Metro
    • Politics
    • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Tech
  • Spotify
Reading: Germany matches DNA from skulls stolen from Africa to relatives in Tanzania
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Newsunplug KenyaNewsunplug Kenya
Font ResizerAa
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Tech
  • Spotify
  • News
    • Metro
    • Politics
    • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Tech
  • Spotify
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2022 Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
Newsunplug Kenya > Blog > Metro > Germany matches DNA from skulls stolen from Africa to relatives in Tanzania
Metro

Germany matches DNA from skulls stolen from Africa to relatives in Tanzania

new5nuke
Last updated: September 7, 2023 7:19 am
new5nuke
2 years ago
Share
SHARE

Researchers have identified living relatives in Tanzania of people whose skulls were pillaged and taken to Germany during the colonial era, Berlin’s museum authority said on Tuesday, a discovery hailed as a “small miracle”.

Berlin’s Museum of Prehistory and Early History has been carrying out research on around 1,100 skulls from what was known as German East Africa since 2017, with the aim of eventually returning the remains to the relevant countries.

Now, for the first time, DNA analysis has provided a clear link with living descendants in Tanzania, the SPK museum authority said in a statement.

“The relatives and the government of Tanzania will now be informed as soon as possible,” the statement said.

The skulls are part of a collection of around 7,700 that were acquired by the SPK from Berlin’s Charite hospital in 2011, the museum authority said.

Many of them were part of a collection assembled by doctor and anthropologist Felix von Luschan during German colonial rule.

Others belonged to the skull collection of the hospital’s former anatomical institute.

They are thought to have been looted from cemeteries and other burial sites around the world and brought to Germany for “scientific” experiments.

READ MORE  13 injured after Tahmeed bus rams into vehicles on Mombasa-Nairobi highway

German East Africa included present-day Burundi, Rwanda, mainland Tanzania and part of Mozambique.

Researchers at the Museum of Prehistory and Early History were able to gather enough information on eight of the skulls to merit a search for specific descendants, the SPK said.

For one skull, a complete genetic match was found with a man still alive today.

The title “Akida” on the skull had already indicated that it belonged to a high-ranking advisor to Mangi Meli, a powerful leader of the Chagga people.

The DNA sample provided a direct match with a descendant of Akida, the SPK said.

An almost complete match to descendants of the Chagga people was also confirmed in two more of the eight skulls examined.

– Poor condition –

“Finding a match like this is a small miracle and will probably remain a rare case even despite the most meticulous provenance research,” said Hermann Parzinger, president of the SPK.

Interest in the skulls waned after World War I and they were in very poor condition when the museum acquired them in 2011, the SPK said.

Before beginning the research, which was carried out together with scientists from Rwanda, the museum had the skulls cleaned and conserved.

READ MORE  Family of 85-year-old woman, killed by an alligator while walking her dog, files wrongful death lawsuit

Over the past 20 years, Germany has been gradually starting to talk more about the crimes it committed during the colonial era.

In German South West Africa, now Namibia, Germany was responsible for mass killings of indigenous Herero and Nama people that many historians refer to as the first genocide of the 20th century.

Germany has returned skulls and other human remains to Namibia that it had sent to Berlin during the period.

In 2021, the country officially acknowledged that it had committed genocide in Namibia and promised a billion euros in financial support to descendants of the victims.

Germany has also started to return cultural artefacts looted during the colonial era.

Last year, it began returning items from its collections of Benin Bronzes, ancient sculptures from the Kingdom of Benin, to Nigeria.

The 16th-18th century metal plaques and sculptures, among the most highly regarded works of African art, are now scattered around European museums after being looted by the British at the end of the 19th century.

Kenyans on Twitter flock ‘Mtu wa Mayai’ stand, clear his entire stock and donate much more
Kisumu City Department raises alarm over bedbug, rat infestation
NTSA launches search for matatu after tout throws out passenger in presence of traffic cop
Parts of Garissa Town are without power, according to KPLC.
Kisii: Two ‘mchele babes’ arraigned over death of man they allegedly drugged
Share This Article
Facebook Email Print
Previous Article Kenyans can now travel to DR Congo visa-free
Next Article Pain of Murang’a woman living with broken surgical needle in birth canal after suspected medical negligence
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

about us

We influence 20 million users and is the number one business and technology news network on the planet.

Recent Posts

  • Michelle Obama playfully pokes fun at Barack Obama’s presidential ambitions that brought her fame and fortune
  • Djibouti opens market for Kenyan miraa
  • Stephen Munyakho expected to return to Kenya today – CS Mudavadi
  • Two land officials testify in Ksh.1.6 billion fraud case
  • SHE MEANS BUSINESS | From Chef to Trailblazing Fashion Entrepreneur – Carole Kinoti

Recent Comments

No comments to show.
Newsunplug KenyaNewsunplug Kenya
© Newsunplug Kenya. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?