Story by Oleen Ndori, Foreign Editor
THE soul of a nation lives in its heritage, South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Honourable Gayton McKenzie, has said, as his country prepares to hand over the last Zimbabwe Soapstone Bird and ancestral human remains in a landmark act of cultural restitution ahead of Zimbabwe’s Independence Day celebrations.
The handover ceremony, directed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, will take place at the Iziko South African Museum in Cape Town this Tuesday, marking a significant moment in the restoration of African heritage.
The artefact, known as Hungwe, is among the revered Zimbabwe Birds carved centuries ago at Great Zimbabwe, where they stood as sacred symbols of spirituality, sovereignty and identity within a flourishing African civilisation between the 11th and 15th centuries.
Historians note that during the late 19th century, at the height of colonial plunder, several of the sculptures were removed from Zimbabwe and dispersed across the world, severing them from their cultural roots. The bird now set for return is believed to be the last and most significant of the eight, taken nearly 140 years ago and linked to colonial figure Cecil John Rhodes.
Following Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, a number of the artefacts were repatriated through diplomatic engagement. The return of Chapungu, more than four decades later, completes a long-standing process of reclaiming national heritage.
Minister McKenzie said the repatriation goes beyond the physical return of artefacts.
“When something sacred is taken from a people, a part of their story is taken with it. Returning these treasures is about restoring that story, restoring pride, and restoring dignity,” he said.
He added that the process speaks to broader efforts to address historical injustices.
“The return of objects such as the Zimbabwe Bird is about justice, memory, and healing,” he said.
The Zimbabwe Bird remains a central national emblem, prominently featured on the country’s flag and coat of arms, symbolising resilience and unity.
South Africa said the repatriation underscores its commitment to working with other African nations to ensure cultural heritage is preserved and returned to its rightful custodians, in a move seen as reinforcing continental solidarity and historical redress.
