#ReturnTheDiamond: South Africans ask Britain to give back ‘world’s largest diamond’ ahead of Coronation

South Africans have asked for the “world’s largest diamond” in King Charles’ crown jewels to be returned to them ahead of the Coronation this weekend on May 6. #ReturnTheDiamond is trending on Twitter as South African as well as Indian netizens air out opinions on the British Monarchy’s possession of jewels from the former colonies.

The Star of Africa weighs 530 carats. The jewel is formally known as Cullinan I after being cut from the Cullinan diamond, a 3,100-carat stone which was mined near Pretoria in 1905. Two years later, it was given to the British Monarchy when the country was under British colonial rule.

The diamond present in the royal sceptre, is expected to be on full display when King Charles III is crowned during his historic coronation.

The British monarchy is now under fire from activists and campaigners who are pushing for reparatory justice after Britain’s colonial stain on their countries.

Mothusi Kamanga, a lawyer and activist in Johannesburg, told Reuters that the diamond needs to be returned to South Africa.

“It needs to be a sign of our pride, our heritage and our cultures. I think generally the African people are starting to realise that to decolonise is not just to let people have certain freedoms, but it’s also to take back what has been expropriated from us”.

Mothusi Kamanga to Rueters

Kamanga has led an online petition for the diamond to be given back which has so far amassed around 8,000 signatures.

A Cullinan II is a smaller diamond in the Imperial State Crown and was taken from the same stone. For South Africans, a mere replica of the Cullian diamond is on display at the Cape Town Diamond Museum.

While some South Africans feel strongly that the UK should return the diamond, others do not. According to a local news outlet, some residents have said that things have changed and don’t feel strongly about it anymore. For example, Mohamed Abdulahi, a Johannesburg resident, believes that the UK should return the diamond as colonists took it from locals when they faced oppression. On the other hand, Dieketseng Nzhadzhaba, a resident, said, “I don’t think it matters anymore. Things have changed, we’re evolving. What mattered for them in the olden days about being superior… it doesn’t matter to us anymore.”