Ethiopia Receives Valuable Items After a 100-Year Stay in a German Family

Around 12 ancient items were officially restored to the Ethiopian nation after being kept by a family in Germany for more than ten decades.

The items, first gathered in the 1920's by Germany's representative to Ethiopia a German envoy and his spouse his partner, were delivered on this past Wednesday to the Ethiopian Studies Institute at the capital's university.

The set contained crowns, armor and artistic works, each considered as culturally important in the nation.

"These artefacts still stand as a mark of the enduring and amicable relationship between the German nation and the Ethiopian people," said Germany's envoy, the representative to Ethiopia.

Professor Ramon Wyss, whose father was born during the family's service in Ethiopia, handed over the artefacts at a event joined by Tourism Minister Selamawit Kassa.

He stated that the household's aim to give back the artefacts was to "showcase their appeal with the people and preserve the culture and history tied to my parent's origin."

The objects were either gifts or buys, as stated by the relatives.

"I want to express gratitude to Professor Weiss's family for actively demonstrating their sincere appreciation for Ethiopia by carefully safeguarding these artifacts and crucially securing their repatriation to their proper country," stated the tourism minister.

She continued that the items would shortly be made accessible to the public for study and scholarly work, calling the action a milestone in preserving Ethiopia's national treasures.

"Actions will continue to repatriate historical items that are found in the possession of individuals and institutions throughout the world," the minister affirmed.

In the era of colonial rule in Africa, thousands of cultural artefacts were plundered.

This demand by African countries for the restoration of looted items has been answered with some progress in the past few years - though some objects are just on temporary return.

Back in two years ago, Germany was the pioneering state to give back a selection of the well-known Benin artifacts to the West African nation as part of an effort to confront its "complex past."

Connected Subjects

• Cultural Repatriation Initiatives in the Continent
• The Impact of Imperial Past on Modern African Heritage
• International Movements for the Return of Looted Treasures