Abstract:
This research explores the history and dynamics of curation and repatriation of human remains
in South African museums. In this dissertation, I interrogate the role played by colonialism and
apartheid in the acquisition of human remains in museums. This research will shed light on the
role and significance of repatriation in museums. Hence, this research on the repatriation of
human remains in museums aims to understand issues of identity, cultural values, race politics
and stakeholder relations with indigenous communities. Legislative implications postdemocracy,
faced by South African museums with human remains collections, are probed
closely.
