The East African nation Welcomes Valuable Artefacts After a 100-Year Stay in German Hands
A total of Twelve ancient objects were ceremoniously returned to Ethiopia after remaining by a family in Germany for over ten decades.
The items, initially acquired in the 1920s by the German then-envoy to the Ethiopian empire Franz Weiss and his wife Hedwig, were transferred on Wednesday to the Institute of Ethiopian Studies at Addis Ababa University.
This assortment featured crowns, shields and canvases, each viewed as culturally important in the nation.
"These treasures continue to serve as a symbol of the enduring and positive connection between the German nation and Ethiopia," stated Ferdinand von Weyhe, the ambassador to Ethiopia.
Dr. Ramon Wyss, whose parent was delivered during the household's diplomatic posting in Ethiopia, handed over the items at a event witnessed by the Minister of Tourism Selamawit Kassa.
He said that the family's aim to restore the treasures was to "showcase their appeal with the people and preserve the culture and past connected to my father's origin."
The items were either considered donations or buys, based on the relatives.
"We would like to thank the Weiss family for concretely expressing their profound love for Ethiopia by meticulously safeguarding these items and crucially guaranteeing their homecoming to their rightful homeland," said the official.
She noted that the items would in the near future be available to the public for study and academic study, terming the action a significant step in safeguarding Ethiopia's national treasures.
"Initiatives will continue to return ancient objects that are found in the possession of private persons and entities around the world," the minister said.
In the era of colonialism in the African continent, thousands of traditional objects were taken.
The demand by African countries for the repatriation of taken items has been answered with a degree of progress in the past few years - although several artefacts are only on short-term display.
In the year 2022, Germany was the first country to give back a portion of the well-known historical items to the West African nation in an attempt to deal with its "troubled past."
Related Topics
- Cultural Restoration Movements in the Continent
- The Significance of Imperial History on Contemporary African Heritage
- International Campaigns for the Restitution of Stolen Artefacts
