Remains of people exhibited in ‘human zoos’ to be returned to French Guiana

The remains were initially buried and then later exhumed for scientific study, and have been held at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris ever since. 

On 15 June, the National Assembly gave final approval to a bill already passed by the Senate allowing for the removal of the remains from public collections, which are usually inalienable, making it legally possible to return them to their community.

Martin Friess, head of the biological anthropology collections at the Museum of Mankind, part of the National Museum of Natural History, showed RFI six large grey boxes stacked on top of one another in a climate-controlled storeroom at the museum. 

"Inside are the human remains of the six individuals. They were brought to France for the 1892 World's Fair, where they were exhibited in the Jardin d'Acclimatation's 'human zoo'," he said. 

These six people died in the same year.
"Most were buried and were exhumed in 1897, at which point they were transferred to the collections of the National Museum of Natural History," Friess explained. 

"So we had these boxes made specifically for these individuals, because they are more or less complete skeletons that have been mounted – that is to say, articulated – which was the practice in the 19th century, mainly to facilitate exhibitions. They are assembled as if they were standing upright."

French senators clear path for return of Kali'na remains to French Guiana

'A blessed and historic year'

For their descendants, the final vote at the National Assembly on 15 June marks 2026 as a historic year.

"It's an exceptional year. A year which, I think, resonates with everyone's memories, as it's also the year of the Taubira Law," says Corinne Toka-Devilliers, chair of the Moliko Alet+po campaign group, referring to the law enacted in 2001 which made made France the first country in the world to officially classify the slave trade as a crime against humanity. This law was spearheaded by Christiane Taubira, an MP from French Guiana. 

"So 2026 is truly a blessed and historic year, in every sense of the word, for the overseas territories, for the DOM-TOMs, for the local authorities and for French Guiana."

France confronts enduring legacy of slavery, 25 years on from Taubira Law Corinne Toka-Devilliers stands before the remains of her ancestors during the spiritual ceremony held in September 2024.

A shamanic ceremony was held in September 2024 at the museum to soothe the souls of the six people and prepare for their return.

This will take place in three stages, explained Toka-Devilliers.

"It will begin with an official ceremony at the Elysée Palace, as announced to us by the adviser to the president of the Republic.

"Next, there will be a ceremony on arrival at Félix Éboué Airport in Cayenne, and afterwards they will be taken to their burial site where a vigil will be held, in accordance with our ancestral Kali'na and Arawak culture, so that the following day they may finally find their final resting place and eternal rest."

This article has been adapted from the original version in French by Arame Mbengue.