The East African nation Receives Historic Treasures After a Century Stay in Germany
Around 12 ancient artefacts were officially returned to Ethiopia following remaining by a family in Germany for more than a century.
These treasures, originally collected in the 1920s by the German then-envoy to the Ethiopian empire Franz Weiss and his wife Hedwig, were delivered on midweek to the Ethiopian Studies Institute at Addis Ababa University.
This collection featured royal crowns, armor and artistic works, each considered as historically important in the nation.
"The artefacts still serve as a emblem of the long-standing and amicable ties between the German nation and the Ethiopian people," said Germany's envoy, the representative to the East African country.
Professor a professor, whose parent was born during the household's service in the nation, handed over the items at a event attended by Tourism Minister Selamawit Kassa.
He said that the family's aim to give back the artefacts was to "share their appeal with the public and maintain the culture and past tied to my parent's origin."
The items were either considered gifts or purchases, based on the family.
"We would like to express gratitude to the Weiss family for actively demonstrating their deep appreciation for the nation by diligently maintaining these artifacts and crucially ensuring their homecoming to their rightful country," stated the official.
The minister added that the pieces would soon be made accessible to the general audience for investigation and academic study, calling the action a significant step in safeguarding the nation's cultural heritage.
"Initiatives are ongoing to repatriate ancient artifacts that are located in the hands of private persons and institutions throughout the planet," she affirmed.
During imperial control in Africa, numerous of traditional artefacts were plundered.
This request by nations in Africa for the restoration of looted artefacts has been responded to by certain success in recent years - even if several objects are merely on temporary return.
Back in 2022, Germany was the initial country to give back a portion of the well-known Benin Bronzes to Nigeria in a bid to confront its "troubled past."
Related Themes
- Historical Return Movements in Africa
- This Impact of Colonial Past on Contemporary African Culture
- Global Movements for the Return of Stolen Items
