Memorials stolen from Kenya returned to their rightful place in the country.

Kenya's journey to reclaim its stolen artifacts, such as vigango, has been a long and arduous one. For decades, these cultural artifacts have been taken from African nations and used by Western countries for tourism and cultural attractions. The Mijikenda people, a nine-tribe community living along the East African country's coast, traditionally use the vigango as a tombstone to honor the memory of deceased male elders.

Recently, the National Museums of Kenya held a ceremonial acknowledgment of the return of the vigango. Through the efforts of Dr. Brooke Morgan, an anthropologist at the Illinois State Museum, 37 of the Kenyan memorials have been repatriated. The museum is now in the process of formulating a complete repatriation plan, in which the vigango will reside until ownership of the pieces is established and import tariffs are taken into account.

The museum's action has encouraged other institutions around the world to take a stand and return stolen artifacts to their rightful origins. Germany is a notable example, recently announcing their intention to return stolen bronze artifacts to Benin.

The return of the vigango is a cause of celebration for the Giriama nation, Kilifi county, and all of Kenya. It is a reminder of the importance of preserving cultural heritage and a reminder of the spiritual well-being of the whole community.

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