Descendants of the first chimurenga heroes from Zimbabwe are taking action to locate the skulls of their ancestors, which they believe are held by the Natural History Museum in London and the University of Cambridge. These heroes led a significant uprising against British colonial rule in the 1890s, and the descendants have formally requested collaboration with these institutions to find six specific remains. In their correspondence, they have also proposed providing DNA samples to aid in the identification and research process.

In 2022, both the museum and the university stated they could not find any remains in their collections that belonged to the Zimbabwean resistance fighters. This declaration caused disappointment among the descendants and officials back in Zimbabwe, who have long maintained that the skulls should be returned to acknowledge the historical injustices committed against their ancestors. The current call for action emphasizes the need for clarifying the provenance of these artifacts, which remains a sensitive and unresolved issue between Zimbabwe and the UK.

The descendants are expressing a growing urgency in their quest, highlighting the importance of reconnecting with their heritage and honoring the legacy of those who fought against colonial oppression. This initiative is not only about locating the physical remains but also about restoring dignity to those who suffered under colonialism and initiating a broader conversation about the repatriation of cultural artifacts across colonial histories.