National Museum receives remains of African woman enslaved in Brazil and taken to the USA in the 19th century
Ceremonies in Rio de Janeiro and Salvador mark the return of mortal remains of enslaved people who were at Harvard University
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Mortal remains of enslaved people, kept by Harvard University, are repatriated to Brazil in ceremonies in Rio de Janeiro and Salvador, as part of an initiative to recognize the legacy of slavery.
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Why It Matters
The remains had been under the care of Harvard University since the 19th century. The National Museum suffered a major fire in 2018.
The remains were taken to the United States in the 19th century and were kept by the Peabody Museum at Harvard University. The repatriation is part of an initiative aimed at recognizing the legacy of slavery in Brazil and the violence committed against the black population in the country.
During the ceremony, two terms of commitment will be signed that formalize the transfer and establish the conditions for the temporary custody of the remains by the National Museum.
The ceremony will be held at Quinta da Boa Vista, in the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro.
Also this Wednesday, the federal government is promoting another repatriation ceremony in Salvador, in partnership with the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA). In this case, the remains of an enslaved African man, of Nagô origin, who would have participated in the Malês Revolt, which took place in Salvador in January 1835, will be received. The material was also at Harvard University.
The National Museum, at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), is one of the main research and teaching institutions in the country. In 2018, a major fire destroyed most of the collection, gathered over 200 years.
Last year, the National Museum welcomed the public again for the first time since the fire, during a special exhibition. The space is still undergoing construction.
Open Questions
- What are the specific terms of temporary custody?
