Ethiopia Receives Historic Artefacts Following a Long Residence in a German Family
Around Twelve cultural objects have been formally given back to the Ethiopian nation following being kept by a household from Germany for more than a century.
The artefacts, first acquired in the 1920s by the German then-envoy to Ethiopia a German envoy and his spouse Hedwig, were handed over on midweek to the research center at the university in Addis Ababa.
The assortment contained crowns, protective shields and paintings, each considered as culturally significant in the country.
"The items still represent a emblem of the long-standing and friendly connection between Germany and the Ethiopian people," remarked Germany's envoy, Germany's envoy to Ethiopia.
Dr. Ramon Wyss, whose parent was delivered during the household's service in the nation, delivered the artefacts at a ceremony attended by the Minister of Tourism the tourism official.
He stated that the household's aim to give back the artefacts was to "showcase their splendor with the people and maintain the heritage and history tied to my father's beginning."
These items were either considered gifts or acquisitions, based on the family.
"I want to express gratitude to the Weiss family for actively demonstrating their sincere affection for the nation by carefully safeguarding these items and crucially ensuring their repatriation to their proper homeland," stated the official.
The minister continued that the pieces would in the near future be opened to the public for study and educational purposes, calling the action a milestone in safeguarding Ethiopia's national treasures.
"Efforts are ongoing to repatriate old artifacts that are held in the hands of individuals and organizations all over the planet," the minister said.
During colonial rule in Africa, numerous of cultural objects were looted.
The request by the continent's states for the restoration of looted objects has been met with a degree of positive outcomes in the past few years - even if a number of artefacts are only on temporary return.
In two years ago, Germany was the first country to return a portion of the famous historical items to the Nigerian people as part of an effort to confront its "dark colonial history."
Connected Topics
- Historical Repatriation Movements in Africa
- This Effect of Colonial Past on Modern African Culture
- Global Campaigns for the Return of Stolen Treasures
