Ethiopia Receives Cultural Treasures Following a Century Holding in Germany
Exactly Twelve ancient artefacts have been officially returned to the Ethiopian nation after being kept by a household from Germany for more than 100 years.
The artefacts, originally gathered in the 1920s by the German then-envoy to Ethiopia a German envoy and his wife his partner, were delivered on Wednesday to the Ethiopian Studies Institute at the university in Addis Ababa.
The assortment contained royal crowns, protective shields and paintings, each considered as historically significant in the nation.
"The treasures continue to stand as a mark of the enduring and amicable ties between Germany and Ethiopia," stated the German diplomat, Germany's ambassador to the East African country.
Professor Ramon Wyss, whose parent was born during the household's service in Ethiopia, presented the items at a gathering witnessed by the Minister of Tourism the tourism official.
He stated that the family's aim to restore the items was to "share their appeal with the people and safeguard the heritage and past connected to my parent's beginning."
The items were either considered gifts or buys, based on the household.
"I want to express gratitude to Professor Weiss's family for practically demonstrating their sincere love for Ethiopia by diligently preserving these treasures and vitally securing their return to their proper nation," stated the tourism minister.
The minister continued that the items would in the near future be opened to the people for study and academic study, describing the move a significant step in preserving Ethiopia's historical legacy.
"Initiatives will continue to bring back ancient items that are located in the hands of individuals and institutions all over the globe," she said.
In the era of colonial rule in the African continent, thousands of traditional artefacts were looted.
The request by nations in Africa for the repatriation of taken objects has been answered with certain positive outcomes in the past few years - though a number of objects are only on loan.
In 2022, Germany was the initial country to repatriate a selection of the famous Benin artifacts to the West African nation in a bid to address its "complex colonial history."
Similar Subjects
- Historical Restoration Initiatives in the Continent
- The Impact of Imperial Past on Modern Ethiopian Heritage
- Global Campaigns for the Restitution of Looted Treasures
