The Documentary Podcast Returning Germany’s stolen skulls
Jul 17, 2025
Bernard Hebe, an archaeologist and curator at the Museum for Pre and Early History in Berlin, discusses the historical injustices of stolen ancestral remains. Zablon Kiwelu shares his deep emotional journey as he encounters his grandfather's skull, exemplifying the pain of colonial history. They explore the unethical practices surrounding the collection of these skulls and the ongoing struggle for cultural restitution. The episode highlights the urgent need for transparency and collaboration in repatriation efforts, connecting personal grief to broader themes of identity and heritage.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Zablon's Painful Visit to Berlin
- Zablon Kiewelu traveled to Berlin to see the skull of his grandfather, a Tanzanian leader executed and decapitated by German colonialists over 100 years ago.
- Despite DNA confirmation of heritage, he cannot bring his grandfather's skull home for proper burial, causing deep personal pain.
Hidden Colonial Human Remains
- Berlin museums hold one of the largest collections of human remains from former German colonies, mostly hidden from public view.
- These skulls and bones were stored secretly for over a century after colonial officers shipped them from Africa.
Felix von Lushan's Flawed Collection
- Felix von Lushan collected roughly 3,000 skulls from German colonies for anthropological study but never fully analyzed them.
- His chaotic collection methods and racist assumptions reflect the flawed colonial science of the era.