Ethiopia Receives Cultural Items After a Century Residence in German Hands
A total of 12 ancient items were officially restored to the Ethiopian nation after staying by a German family for more than ten decades.
The artefacts, originally gathered in the 1920's by Germany's representative to Ethiopia a German envoy and his wife his partner, were transferred on this past Wednesday to the Ethiopian Studies Institute at Addis Ababa University.
The assortment contained crowns, armor and artistic works, all considered as historically valuable in the nation.
"These items continue to serve as a mark of the long-standing and amicable relationship between the German nation and the Ethiopian people," said Ferdinand von Weyhe, the envoy to the East African country.
Professor Ramon Wyss, whose father was born during the family's service in Ethiopia, delivered the items at a ceremony joined by Tourism Minister the tourism official.
He explained that the household's goal to restore the items was to "share their splendor with the people and maintain the culture and past connected to my parent's beginning."
The objects were either presents or purchases, based on the relatives.
"I would like to express gratitude to Professor Weiss's relatives for concretely expressing their sincere love for Ethiopia by meticulously safeguarding these treasures and vitally guaranteeing their return to their legitimate nation," commented the official.
She added that the artefacts would in the near future be available to the public for investigation and academic study, describing the decision a landmark in protecting the nation's historical legacy.
"Initiatives are ongoing to bring back ancient artifacts that are located in the custody of individuals and organizations around the globe," she said.
In the era of imperial control in Africa, many of traditional items were looted.
The call by the continent's states for the return of taken objects has been responded to by certain positive outcomes in lately - even if a number of artefacts are only on loan.
Back in the year 2022, Germany was the first nation to repatriate a selection of the renowned Benin artifacts to the West African nation as part of an effort to address its "dark past."
Related Themes
- Cultural Repatriation Movements in the Continent
- This Significance of Colonial Past on Contemporary African Culture
- Global Campaigns for the Restitution of Looted Artefacts