Ethiopia Receives Valuable Items After a Century Holding in a German Family
Around Twelve historical items were formally given back to the Ethiopian nation following staying by a household from Germany for over a century.
These items, first gathered in the 1920s by Germany's diplomat to Ethiopia a German envoy and his wife his partner, were transferred on Wednesday to the Ethiopian Studies Institute at Addis Ababa University.
The assortment contained headpieces, protective shields and paintings, each regarded as historically significant in the country.
"The items still stand as a mark of the enduring and friendly ties between the German nation and Ethiopia," remarked Ferdinand von Weyhe, the envoy to the East African country.
Professor Ramon Wyss, whose parent was delivered during the household's service in the nation, presented the artefacts at a event attended by Tourism Minister the tourism official.
He said that the family's goal to restore the treasures was to "share their appeal with the people and preserve the culture and past tied to my parent's birth."
These artefacts were either gifts or purchases, according to the relatives.
"We would like to express gratitude to Professor Weiss's family for practically expressing their profound affection for Ethiopia by meticulously maintaining these artifacts and crucially ensuring their repatriation to their proper nation," stated the minister of tourism.
The minister added that the artefacts would in the near future be available to the people for research and academic study, describing the move a significant step in protecting the nation's historical legacy.
"Efforts are ongoing to bring back old objects that are located in the hands of individuals and organizations all over the planet," the minister said.
During colonialism in Africa, many of cultural artefacts were plundered.
This request by the continent's states for the return of looted objects has been answered with some positive outcomes in the past few years - though several artefacts are only on temporary return.
In 2022, Germany was the first nation to return a selection of the famous historical items to the West African nation in a bid to confront its "complex colonial history."
Similar Topics
- Cultural Restoration Movements in the Continent
- The Impact of Colonial History on Contemporary African Culture
- Global Campaigns for the Restitution of Looted Treasures
