UKHRUL: The University of Oxford has formally transferred the custodianship of 39 Naga ancestral remains to the Naga people through the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) and the Naga Tribe Hoho, marking a significant milestone in the Naga community’s efforts to reclaim ancestral remains held in museums abroad.
In a statement jointly issued by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation and the Naga Tribe Hoho, the solemn handover ceremony was hosted by the Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford, on November 9, following a repatriation process that began in 2020 with the Forum for Naga Reconciliation serving as facilitator.
The ancestral remains had been under the custodianship of the Pitt Rivers Museum for more than a century. The museum, established in 1884, received Naga artefacts, including human remains, through collectors who donated them to its collections.
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The landmark Transfer of Title Form was jointly signed by Professor Laura Van Broekhoven on behalf of the Pitt Rivers Museum and Rev. Dr Wati Aier on behalf of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation. The document was attested by Visier Sanyü, representing the Forum for Naga Reconciliation, and Thejao Vihienuo, representing the Naga Tribe Hoho.
Following the handover, the ancestral remains were moved out of the University of Oxford to begin their journey home.
The ceremony opened with a traditional chant, Langhon Langpheng Ngao, performed by Nyamto Wangsha, conveying the sentiment that the return of ancestral souls brings healing to villages.
University of Oxford Vice-Chancellor Professor Irene Tracey described the occasion as “historic between the university and the Naga people”. She highlighted the community-led nature of the repatriation initiative, describing it as a journey of reconciliation, healing and peace.
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Speaking on behalf of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation, Professor Visier Sanyü shared his personal testimony of his village being burnt down by British colonial forces. Reflecting on forgiveness and reconciliation, he spoke about how these values helped forge new friendships, quoting late Naga peace activist Niketu Iralu: “Hate not transformed is transferred.”
The President of the Angami Public Organisation, Thejao Vihienuo, who spoke on behalf of the Naga Tribe Hoho, described repatriation as a Naga right to care for their ancestors and an acknowledgement of shared humanity. He stressed that all Naga ancestral remains held in museums must be returned to their homeland with dignity.
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Rev. Dr Ellen Konyak, coordinator of the Recover, Restore, and Decolonise (RRaD) team, said the repatriation was not the end but a new beginning for the Naga people to create their own story.
The ceremony also featured a song, Nyokei Shemei Leishah, presented by NT Thamlong Phom and Dr Moishen Metjei Phom, expressing the sentiments surrounding the return of Naga ancestors to their homeland.
The gathering recognised the handover as the beginning of a broader journey to confront difficult colonial histories and embrace renewed visions of shared humanity, the statement added.
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