In the Decolonial Memories podcast, the Molelia family talks about ancestors and cultural belongings in Germany
In February 2026, 72-year-old Sirili Molelia and his son Tony (38) from Tanzania travelled to Germany for the first time in their lives at the invitation of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (SPK). Their family’s life in Kibosho
has been closely intertwined with the former colonial power for over 130 years. German soldiers murdered their (great) grandfather, a traditional king on the slopes of Kilimanjaro, 126 years ago.
Mangi Molelia was hanged together with his brother and other leaders of the Chagga community on 2 March 1900 in order to break any resistance against the occupying forces. The skulls of those killed and numerous cultural belongings were transported to Germany.
Podcast with Sirili and Tony Molelia
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Visiting the ancestors
In the podcast, the Molelias explain why they came to Germany. Through the mediation of Mnayaka Sururu Mboro, diaspora activist from
Berlin Postkolonial, and artist Konradin Kunze (Flinnworks), DNA tests carried out in 2023 on remains from Kibosho in the possession of the SPK yielded positive results. This confirms that Mangi Molelia, his brother and another relative are currently held in Berlin. Sirili and Tony visited them and prayed with them.
Transfer of custodianship
During a meeting with the new president of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation on 17 February 2026, Marion Ackermann transferred custody of the three ancestors to the Molelia family. This means that they now have sole control over the remains. However, immediate repatriation to Kibosho is not possible because it requires the approval of the Tanzanian government, which has not yet responded to the SPK’s offer to return the remains.
Charité Berlin
The Charité had a similar experience in early 2025 when it handed over twelve stolen ancestral remains to the sultan of the Hehe community in Tanzania. In this case, too, the Tanzanian government has so far refused to allow the remains to be returned to their homeland. The ancestors will therefore continue to be kept at the Charité.
Tanzanian Restitution Committee
On the Tanzanian side, the government has appointed a high-level restitution committee. In March 2025, this committee conducted an exploratory trip to Germany, but has not yet issued a statement to the German government. It can be assumed that the committee is preparing to reach a comprehensive agreement with Germany on ancestral remains and cultural belongings, as well as on the recognition of colonial crimes. Only on this basis could individual repatriation actions between German institutions and communities of origin then take place.
After returning from Germany, the Molelia family intends to present the title deed to their ancestors to the government and request appropriate measures. SPK President Ackermann, for her part, intends to approach the Tanzanian embassy requesting that it issues the import permit.
German position on human remains
In the Joint Guidelines for Dealing with Cultural Property and Human Remains from Colonial Contexts of October 2025, Germany’s Federal Government, the Länder and local authority associations committed themselves to the unconditional return of ancestral remains. At the same time, they made it clear that the consent of the government of the country of origin is indispensable for this:
„We remain unconditionally ready to repatriate human remains from colonial contexts if countries and communities of origin so wish. Import authorisation is required from the country of origin for the repatriation of human remains as well.“
Looted belongings
In addition to the return of their ancestors, the Molelias are campaigning for the restitution of their material cultural heritage, which was stolen by German colonial troops. They were able to view these cultural belongings in the depot of the Ethnological Museum Berlin. On their onward journey to Stuttgart, the Linden-Museum showed them other cultural belongings that had been stolen from their family. According to the museum, these include the royal insignia of Kibosho (robe and cap). Similar looted items are also said to be in the Grassi Museum of Ethnology in Leipzig.
As the Molelia family states in the podcast, they want to give their ancestors a dignified burial at home in Kibosho. However, the family’s cultural items are to be kept a historically important building in Moshi Town, where a centre for Chagga culture is currently being developed.
Cultural heritage of the Chagga
The significance of colonial loot taken from the Chagga is explained in the current exhibition at the Linden-Museum, Celebrating Womanhood, curated by Valence Silayo (University of Dar es Salaam) and Fiona Siegenthaler (formerly Linden-Museum):
„These objects have deep historical significance and embody spiritual power. For the Chagga, all objects are sacred. Objects such as wooden sculptures and weapons symbolise honour and tradition. The loss of these objects to outsiders threatens to weaken their spiritual and cultural strength.“
Statement by the Molelia family
On the occasion of their visit to Germany, the Molelia family has formulated a far-reaching statement with precise demands for restitution and reparations by Germany: