France, May 4 -- Pekape, Counai, Emo-Marita, Mibipi, Makere and Miacopo have been lying in individual grey cardboard boxes bearing their names at the Museum of Mankind in Paris since 1892.

Corinne Toka Devilliers, whose great-grandmother Moliko also appeared at a human zoo in Paris but survived the experience, told RFI she wants the remains to go home.

"Our ancestors - 33 of them - were brought to France more than 130 years ago on behalf of the Jardin d'Acclimatation [amusement park in Paris] for the colonial exhibitions," she said.

"Unfortunately, eight lost their lives in France. We have therefore asked for the six [remaining] to be returned home."

Of those eight, one is believed to have been buried in a cemetery north of the French...