To this day, the remains of tens of thousands of people from former colonies are held in German museums, with little hope of identification or repatriation. For the Tanzanian families Mbao and Kayaa, the theft of their ancestors’ bones – taken to Germany during the colonial era for racist research and as macabre war trophies – remains a source of profound pain. In their relentless and arduous struggle to reclaim these remains, they face emotional, bureaucratic and financial hurdles. Their quest is not only an act of healing but also an assertion of resistance and dignity. The families are supported by activists who call for museum depositories in Germany to be opened up and streets to be renamed.
The documentary highlights the transgenerational trauma and collective wounds which the murder and violent displacement of ancestors have caused. It shows how the impact of colonialism persists into the present day and underscores the importance of repatriation – both for the affected communities and for the meaningful restitution efforts of the German state. This moving film sheds light on a long-overlooked chapter of German colonial history and its enduring consequences.

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