Ethiopia Takes Back Valuable Artefacts After a 100-Year Holding in German Hands

Around Twelve ancient objects were ceremoniously given back to Ethiopia following remaining by a German family for more than ten decades.

The artefacts, first gathered in the 1920's by the German diplomat to the Ethiopian empire a German envoy and his wife Hedwig, were delivered on midweek to the research center at the capital's university.

The collection featured crowns, shields and canvases, all regarded as culturally important in Ethiopia.

"The artefacts still represent a mark of the lasting and positive relationship between Germany and the Ethiopian people," remarked Ferdinand von Weyhe, the representative to the East African country.

Professor a professor, whose father was born during the family's diplomatic posting in the nation, presented the artefacts at a event witnessed by the Minister of Tourism the tourism official.

He said that the household's goal to restore the artefacts was to "showcase their splendor with the public and maintain the heritage and history connected to my father's beginning."

The artefacts were either donations or purchases, based on the household.

"We would like to express gratitude to the Weiss family for actively showing their sincere appreciation for the nation by diligently maintaining these treasures and vitally ensuring their return to their proper country," commented the tourism minister.

The minister continued that the artefacts would in the near future be available to the people for research and scholarly work, calling the decision a significant step in protecting the nation's cultural heritage.

"Actions will continue to repatriate old artifacts that are located in the possession of collectors and entities throughout the planet," she affirmed.

In the era of colonialism in the African continent, numerous of historical items were plundered.

The call by the continent's states for the repatriation of stolen objects has been answered with certain progress in the past few years - though several objects are only on short-term display.

In two years ago, Germany was the pioneering nation to give back a selection of the renowned Benin artifacts to the West African nation in a bid to deal with its "troubled past."

Connected Themes

• Historical Repatriation Initiatives in Africa
• This Impact of Colonial History on Contemporary African Heritage
• International Movements for the Return of Looted Treasures