Ethiopia Receives Valuable Items After a 100-Year Residence in German Hands
Around Twelve cultural artefacts have been formally given back to Ethiopia after being kept by a German family for over a century.
The treasures, originally acquired in the early twentieth century by the German then-envoy to the Ethiopian empire a German envoy and his spouse Hedwig, were delivered on Wednesday to the research center at Addis Ababa University.
The collection included headpieces, armor and canvases, each viewed as culturally significant in the nation.
"The treasures still serve as a mark of the enduring and friendly relationship between Germany and the Ethiopian people," stated Germany's envoy, Germany's envoy to the East African country.
Professor a professor, whose father was delivered during the household's assignment in Ethiopia, delivered the items at a gathering joined by the Minister of Tourism Selamawit Kassa.
He explained that the family's aim to return the artefacts was to "share their beauty with the public and preserve the culture and past linked to my father's beginning."
The objects were either considered donations or purchases, according to the household.
"We would like to express gratitude to Professor Weiss's household for practically expressing their deep appreciation for the nation by diligently maintaining these items and vitally ensuring their return to their proper nation," commented the official.
The minister continued that the pieces would shortly be available to the people for research and scholarly work, describing the decision a landmark in preserving the nation's cultural heritage.
"Efforts will continue to return old objects that are held in the possession of individuals and entities all over the world," the minister affirmed.
In the era of imperial control in the African continent, thousands of historical objects were taken.
This demand by nations in Africa for the restoration of taken artefacts has been responded to by certain positive outcomes in recent years - though some items are merely on loan.
In the year 2022, the German government was the initial nation to repatriate a selection of the renowned Benin Bronzes to the West African nation as part of an effort to deal with its "troubled past."
Related Topics
- Historical Restoration Initiatives in Africa
- This Effect of Imperial Past on Modern African Culture
- International Movements for the Restitution of Stolen Items
