Ethiopia Receives Valuable Artefacts Following a 100-Year Residence in German Hands
A total of 12 historical objects have been ceremoniously restored to the Ethiopian nation following being kept by a German family for more than a century.
These treasures, initially gathered in the 1920s by Germany's diplomat to the Ethiopian empire Franz Weiss and his spouse his partner, were handed over on Wednesday to the research center at the capital's university.
The set included crowns, protective shields and artistic works, all regarded as historically valuable in the country.
"These items still represent a emblem of the enduring and friendly ties between Germany and Ethiopia," remarked the German diplomat, the ambassador to the East African country.
Professor a professor, whose father was delivered during the household's diplomatic posting in the nation, presented the objects at a event witnessed by Tourism Minister the tourism official.
He explained that the family's goal to return the artefacts was to "showcase their beauty with the public and preserve the culture and past connected to my father's origin."
These items were either presents or acquisitions, according to the household.
"I would like to thank Professor Weiss's household for concretely demonstrating their profound love for the nation by carefully maintaining these items and crucially ensuring their homecoming to their proper country," commented the tourism minister.
She continued that the items would soon be opened to the general audience for study and educational purposes, terming the action a milestone in protecting the nation's cultural heritage.
"Actions are ongoing to repatriate old objects that are held in the custody of collectors and entities all over the globe," the minister said.
In the era of colonialism in Africa, numerous of historical objects were taken.
The call by African countries for the return of taken items has been met with a degree of success in lately - though a number of artefacts are merely on temporary return.
Back in the year 2022, the German government was the pioneering state to give back a selection of the famous Benin artifacts to Nigeria in a bid to address its "troubled past."
Related Topics
- Cultural Restoration Initiatives in Africa
- This Effect of Imperial Past on Modern Ethiopian Culture
- Global Movements for the Restitution of Stolen Items
