South Africans have called for the return of “The Great Star Of Africa,” worth $400 million, back to them as well as other possessions that were “stolen” by the British monarch.
According to CNN, South Africans have demanded that the British royal family return the world’s largest known clear-cut diamond, called “The Great Star Of Africa.” They’ve also been calling for reparations as well–among other possessions–following the recent death of Queen Elizabeth II.
“The Cullinan Diamond must be returned to South Africa with immediate effect. The minerals of our country and other countries continue to benefit Britain at the expense of our people,” activist Thanduxolo Sabelo reportedly said to a local news outlet.
Over 6,000 people have additionally signed a Change.org petition demanding that the “Great Star Of Africa,” also known as the Cullinan Diamond, be returned and displayed in a South African museum.
“On 26 January 1905, the Cullinan Diamond, weighing 3,106.75 carats (621.35 grams) (21.9 ounces), (1.37 pounds) worth $2 [b]illion, was discovered at the Premier No. 2 mine in Cullinan, South Africa,” the petition has indicated, schooling visitor’s about the valuable diamond. “The mine was named after its owner, Thomas Cullinan. April 1905, the diamond was brought to London where it was mounted on the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross. As South Africans, we would like our diamonds returned and displayed in a South African museum.”
Vuyolwethu Zungula, a member of the South African parliament, has also encouraged the nation to “demand reparations for all the harm done by Britain” and “demand the return of all the gold, diamonds stolen by Britain.”
Everisto Benyera, a University Of South Africa professor of African politics, told CNN that “colonial transactions are illegitimate and immoral.”
“Our narrative is that the whole Transvaal and Union of South Africa governments and the concomitant mining syndicates were illegal,” he said about the possessions. “Receiving a stolen diamond does not exonerate the receiver. The Great Star is a blood diamond…The private (mining) company, the Transvaal government, and the British Empire were part of a larger network of coloniality.”
The “Great Star Of Africa” reportedly weighs approximately 3,106 carats in its natural form and the original diamond was “the size of a human heart,” the Royal Asscher said. The site also explained that South Africa’s Transvaal government–run by the British–purchased and presented it to King Edward VII as a birthday gift. After the Cullinan diamond was cut, Royal Asscher noted, King Edward VII named the largest of the stones “The Great Star Of Africa.” The gem was reportedly set in the Sovereign’s Scepter with Cross, and the second cut stone was placed in the Imperial Crown. Queen Elizabeth II can be seen wearing the diamonds in numerous portraits.
The Imperial Crown, which has more than 2,868 diamonds, lays on top of Queen Elizabeth II's coffin as it moves toward Westminster. https://t.co/eXhpwYmxaB pic.twitter.com/GPnR4b1ZYh
— CBS News (@CBSNews) September 14, 2022
