The East African nation Receives Historic Items Following a 100-Year Stay in a German Family
Around Twelve ancient items have been officially given back to the Ethiopian nation following being kept by a German family for more than ten decades.
The treasures, originally collected in the 1920s by the German representative to Ethiopia a German envoy and his spouse his partner, were transferred on Wednesday to the Institute of Ethiopian Studies at Addis Ababa University.
The set featured royal crowns, armor and canvases, each viewed as historically significant in the nation.
"These items still represent a mark of the enduring and amicable connection between Germany and Ethiopia," said Ferdinand von Weyhe, Germany's ambassador to the East African country.
Professor Ramon Wyss, whose parent was born during the household's service in the nation, delivered the items at a gathering attended by the Minister of Tourism the tourism official.
He stated that the family's aim to restore the treasures was to "showcase their splendor with the audience and preserve the heritage and past tied to my father's birth."
These items were either donations or buys, according to the relatives.
"We want to thank Professor Weiss's family for concretely expressing their deep affection for Ethiopia by carefully safeguarding these artifacts and importantly guaranteeing their homecoming to their proper nation," said the official.
The minister noted that the artefacts would in the near future be made accessible to the public for research and scholarly work, calling the move a significant step in preserving the nation's cultural heritage.
"Initiatives will continue to repatriate ancient artifacts that are located in the possession of individuals and organizations all over the planet," the minister affirmed.
During colonialism in the African continent, thousands of historical items were plundered.
The request by nations in Africa for the restoration of taken objects has been met with some positive outcomes in lately - though a number of objects are merely on short-term display.
In two years ago, the German government was the first country to return a portion of the famous Benin artifacts to the West African nation in a bid to confront its "dark colonial history."
Related Subjects
- Cultural Return Efforts in Africa
- This Impact of Colonial History on Modern Ethiopian Culture
- Global Movements for the Return of Looted Treasures
