Ethiopia Receives Valuable Artefacts After a Century Stay in a German Family
Around 12 ancient items have been formally returned to Ethiopia after staying by a family in Germany for more than 100 years.
These artefacts, first acquired in the 1920s by Germany's representative to Ethiopia a German envoy and his spouse Hedwig, were transferred on midweek to the research center at the university in Addis Ababa.
This assortment featured crowns, armor and canvases, each regarded as culturally significant in the country.
"The artefacts still serve as a mark of the lasting and amicable relationship between Germany and Ethiopia," remarked the German diplomat, the ambassador to the East African country.
Dr. Ramon Wyss, whose father was delivered during the household's assignment in the nation, presented the artefacts at a ceremony joined by the Minister of Tourism the tourism official.
He stated that the family's goal to restore the treasures was to "showcase their beauty with the audience and safeguard the culture and history tied to my father's origin."
The objects were either donations or purchases, according to the family.
"We would like to express gratitude to the Weiss household for concretely expressing their sincere appreciation for the nation by meticulously safeguarding these artifacts and crucially guaranteeing their repatriation to their legitimate homeland," commented the tourism minister.
The minister noted that the items would shortly be made accessible to the public for research and academic study, terming the action a landmark in safeguarding the nation's cultural heritage.
"Initiatives persist to bring back ancient items that are held in the custody of collectors and organizations around the world," the minister said.
In the era of colonialism in the African continent, numerous of traditional objects were plundered.
The demand by African countries for the repatriation of looted objects has been responded to by certain success in the past few years - though some artefacts are only on temporary return.
Back in 2022, the German government was the initial nation to return a selection of the well-known Benin Bronzes to the West African nation in an attempt to address its "dark colonial history."
Related Topics
- Cultural Repatriation Efforts in the Continent
- The Significance of Imperial Past on Modern Ethiopian Heritage
- Global Campaigns for the Return of Stolen Treasures
