Great Star of Africa: Calls for UK to return 500 carat diamond to South Africa

In South Africa, calls for the British royal family to return the world’s largest known clear-cut diamond have increased following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Known as the Great Star of Africa or Cullinan I, this diamond is cut from a larger gemstone mined in South Africa in 1905 and handed over to the British Crown by the South African colonial authorities. It is now attached to the Queen’s scepter.

After the Queen’s death, calls for the return of the African Great Star and other diamonds have intensified, along with calls for their repatriation. Many South Africans believe that the acquisition of gemstones by the UK is illegal.

national conversation

The Queen’s death opened a conversation about colonialism and how it relates to her legacy. South African media has discussed ownership of the gemstones, along with demands for payment of reparations.

“The Cullinan diamonds must be returned to South Africa immediately,” said activist Tandusoro Sabero. told local media“Our minerals and those of other countries continue to benefit the UK at the expense of our people,” he added.

Over 6,000 have signed the petition We are calling for the Great Star of Africa to be returned and displayed in a South African museum.

Vuyolwethu Zungula, Member of the South African Parliament, urged his country “to demand reparation for all damages done by England” and “to demand the return of all gold and diamonds stolen by England”;

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa posted a tweet In honor of the Queen, some South Africans hijacked posts to complain about the return of the Great Star Diamond.

1 I have written“Have you asked her when she will bring back the South African diamonds? another post In response to Charles III’s accession to the throne, his ‘first call of duty to return South African diamonds!’

A royal gift or a ‘stolen’ diamond?

Queen Elizabeth II wearing the crown of the British Empire and holding the orb and scepter after her coronation. credit: Halton Archive/Getty Images

According to the Royal Collection Trust, which oversees the royal collections of the British royal family, the Cullinan diamond is Presented to Edward VII (British monarch at the time) 1907, two years after its discovery in a private mine in the former Transvaal, South Africa.

“It was sent to Usher in Amsterdam for tearing in 1908,” he added.

The original diamond, weighing approximately 3,106 carats in its natural form, was “the size of a human heart.” Royal Usher says.

Royal Usher supports the British monarch’s claim to the gem, explaining that the gem was purchased by the Transvaal government in South Africa (under British rule) and given to King Edward VII as a birthday present.

Everisto Benyera, professor of African politics at the University of South Africa, denies this theory. “The colonial trade is illegal and immoral,” he told CNN.

“Our story is that the entire South African Transvaal and Coalition governments and associated mining syndicates were illegal,” Beniera said, claiming: Private (mining) companies, the Transvaal government, and the British Empire were part of a larger network of colonies. ”

Queen’s death brings back painful memories of British colonialism

According to Royal Usher, the Cullinan diamond was cut into 9 large stones and 96 small stones. The largest of the stones was named the Great Star of Africa by Edward VII. King Edward VII named the second largest cut stone the Small Star of Africa.

The larger diamond was cross-set in the king’s scepter and the second cut stone was attached to the emperor’s crown. Queen Elizabeth II is seen in many of her portraits wearing these diamonds.

Leigh-Ann Mathys, national spokeswoman for South Africa’s opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), told CNN, “The late Queen of Great Britain has been flaunting these (diamonds) for more than half a century.

Mathys accused British colonial rulers of stealing Aboriginal lands and occupying mines.

“Our call is repatriation for all thefts of the colonies, of which the theft of the great stars of Africa is a part,” she said.

“This means that there was a valid agreement in that the British royal family borrowed the diamonds, and therefore will not demand their return. As a result, it’s purely owned by them, even elsewhere,” Mattis told CNN.

African countries have fought tenaciously collect cultural assets Looting by colonial forces. Last month, a museum in London agreed to return 72 objects looted from the kingdom of Benin in southern Nigeria during the British military campaign of 1897.

Source