British lawmakers, NGOs, and researchers are urging the government to address a perceived "legislative vacuum" that enables museums and institutions to possess and exhibit African ancestral remains acquired during the colonial period.
Historically, African ancestral remains, such as mummified bodies, skulls, and body parts, were procured by Britain and other former colonial powers as "trophies" or commodities for trade and display.
Global demands are increasing for the return of these remains, alongside looted art, to their respective communities and countries of origin.
Despite some initiatives to address this issue, African remains are still retained in various institutions in the UK, including museums and universities.
Speaking at an event organized by a cross-party parliamentary group on reparations chaired by Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Connie Bell from the 'Decolonising the Archive' project emphasized, "We cannot allow the dehumanisation of our ancestors."
In response to concerns raised in November 2024 by Ribeiro-Addy about colonial-era remains being offered for sale, including on e-commerce platforms and social media, UK's deputy prime minister Angela Rayner expressed shock and pledged further discussions with the culture minister. Ribeiro-Addy announced a forthcoming meeting on the matter.
The cross-party group will submit 14 policy recommendations to the government, advocating for the prohibition of all sales of remains on the basis that they are human beings, not commodities. This guidance, crafted by the African Foundation for Development (AFFORD), highlights the need to amend the Human Tissues Act 2004 to plug loopholes that current legislation leaves open.
According to AFFORD, the Act fails to address actions related to remains of individuals deceased more than a century ago, which encompasses a large portion of ancestral remains held by institutions like museums. The organization proposes amending the act to criminalize the public display of human remains without consent, establishing a national restitution policy, and creating a dedicated body for repatriation matters, along with the comprehensive mapping of human remains collections.