🔗 Share this article

A total of Twelve cultural items were formally returned to the Ethiopian nation after staying by a German family for in excess of ten decades.

These artefacts, originally acquired in the 1920's by the German diplomat to Ethiopia a German envoy and his wife his partner, were transferred on Wednesday to the research center at the university in Addis Ababa.

The set contained headpieces, shields and artistic works, all viewed as historically valuable in Ethiopia.

"The artefacts still stand as a mark of the enduring and positive ties between the German nation and the Ethiopian people," remarked the German diplomat, the envoy to Ethiopia.

Professor a professor, whose parent was born during the household's assignment in the nation, presented the objects at a event attended by Tourism Minister the tourism official.

He explained that the family's intention to restore the items was to "showcase their splendor with the audience and maintain the heritage and history connected to my parent's beginning."

These artefacts were either donations or acquisitions, based on the relatives.

"We want to thank Professor Weiss's family for concretely demonstrating their deep love for the nation by carefully maintaining these treasures and crucially ensuring their homecoming to their legitimate homeland," commented the minister of tourism.

The minister added that the pieces would in the near future be opened to the people for research and scholarly work, terming the action a landmark in preserving Ethiopia's historical legacy.

"Actions are ongoing to bring back historical artifacts that are located in the hands of collectors and institutions around the planet," she affirmed.

In the era of colonialism in Africa, many of cultural artefacts were plundered.

This demand by the continent's states for the restoration of looted objects has been answered with a degree of positive outcomes in lately - although several items are just on temporary return.

In 2022, the German government was the first country to give back some of the well-known Benin artifacts to Nigeria in an attempt to address its "complex colonial history."

Similar Subjects

• Cultural Restoration Efforts in Africa
• The Significance of Imperial Past on Contemporary African Heritage
• International Movements for the Restitution of Stolen Items