Rev. Dr. Mwelwa Demands Return of Broken Hill Man, Calls for 2027 Repatriation Target

By Pauline Ngozoh

A concerned Zambian citizen, Rev. Dr. Given Katuta Mwelwa, has called on the Zambian Government to intensify efforts to secure the return of the Broken Hill Man skull from the United Kingdom, proposing 2027 as the target year for its repatriation.

In a statement issued yesterday, Rev. Dr. Mwelwa questioned how much longer Zambia must wait for the return of what he described as a vital piece of national heritage.

The skull, also known as Kabwe Man, was discovered in Kabwe in 1921 and has since been housed at the Natural History Museum in London for over a century.

Rev. Dr. Mwelwa noted that the return of cultural property is possible, citing the return of 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria by the Netherlands and the repatriation of the remains of Sarah Baartman to South Africa by France in 2002.

He has questioned why Zambian citizens should be required to obtain a British visa and incur the cost of international travel to view heritage that was discovered on Zambian soil.

According to him, while the scientific significance of the skull is undisputed, it cannot serve as a permanent justification for retaining it abroad. He argued that international cooperation, including joint research and digitization, can protect scientific interests while allowing Zambians to reconnect with their history.

Rev. Dr. Mwelwa has further recalled that in 2024, UNESCO's Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property (ICPRCP) recommended a roadmap involving Zambia and the United Kingdom, with a progress report expected in 2026.

He has since called on the Government to update the nation on the progress made, the obstacles encountered, and the way forward, warning that the matter should not be allowed to disappear into diplomatic files and endless negotiations.

He has also urged the British Government to demonstrate genuine international partnership by listening to the concerns of countries whose cultural heritage is held in foreign institutions.

Rev. Dr. Mwelwa maintained that the heritage belongs in Zambia where it can be studied and its significance passed on to future generations, stating that the question is no longer whether Zambia should pursue its return, but how much longer the country must wait.