Ethiopia Receives Cultural Items After a Century Stay in Germany
Around Twelve historical items have been formally restored to Ethiopia after staying by a household from Germany for more than ten decades.
The items, originally gathered in the 1920s by the German then-envoy to the Ethiopian empire a German envoy and his spouse his partner, were handed over on Wednesday to the Ethiopian Studies Institute at the capital's university.
The collection contained royal crowns, armor and artistic works, all viewed as culturally valuable in the country.
"The artefacts still represent a mark of the enduring and positive ties between Germany and the Ethiopian people," stated Ferdinand von Weyhe, the ambassador to Ethiopia.
Dr. Ramon Wyss, whose father was born during the family's diplomatic posting in the nation, delivered the items at a event witnessed by the Minister of Tourism Selamawit Kassa.
He explained that the family's aim to return the items was to "showcase their beauty with the people and safeguard the culture and past tied to my father's beginning."
The artefacts were either gifts or purchases, according to the family.
"We would like to thank the Weiss household for practically demonstrating their sincere affection for the nation by carefully maintaining these artifacts and importantly ensuring their homecoming to their legitimate country," said the minister of tourism.
She added that the pieces would shortly be opened to the people for investigation and academic study, describing the action a significant step in safeguarding the nation's national treasures.
"Initiatives are ongoing to return old items that are located in the custody of collectors and entities throughout the world," the minister affirmed.
In the era of imperial control in the African continent, numerous of historical items were taken.
The request by the continent's states for the repatriation of taken artefacts has been responded to by certain positive outcomes in the past few years - although several artefacts are just on short-term display.
In two years ago, the German government was the pioneering country to give back a portion of the famous historical items to the West African nation as part of an effort to address its "troubled past."
Similar Themes
- Cultural Restoration Initiatives in the Continent
- This Effect of Colonial Past on Contemporary Ethiopian Culture
- International Movements for the Return of Stolen Artefacts
