The East African nation Receives Cultural Artefacts After a 100-Year Stay in Germany
A total of Twelve historical artefacts were formally given back to Ethiopia following remaining by a family in Germany for over ten decades.
The items, first gathered in the 1920s by Germany's representative to Ethiopia a German envoy and his spouse Hedwig, were delivered on this past Wednesday to the Institute of Ethiopian Studies at the university in Addis Ababa.
The collection featured royal crowns, protective shields and artistic works, all regarded as culturally significant in the nation.
"The artefacts still stand as a symbol of the enduring and amicable ties between Germany and Ethiopia," remarked Ferdinand von Weyhe, the envoy to Ethiopia.
Professor Ramon Wyss, whose parent was born during the family's service in Ethiopia, delivered the objects at a gathering joined by the Minister of Tourism the tourism official.
He said that the household's intention to give back the treasures was to "showcase their beauty with the people and maintain the culture and past connected to my father's origin."
The artefacts were either gifts or buys, as stated by the household.
"I would like to thank the Weiss family for concretely showing their deep appreciation for the nation by meticulously safeguarding these artifacts and importantly guaranteeing their return to their legitimate homeland," commented the official.
The minister added that the pieces would in the near future be available to the public for research and academic study, describing the action a milestone in safeguarding Ethiopia's cultural heritage.
"Efforts will continue to repatriate ancient objects that are located in the hands of private persons and organizations around the globe," the minister stated.
In the era of colonial rule in the African continent, thousands of cultural objects were looted.
The call by the continent's states for the repatriation of stolen objects has been answered with a degree of positive outcomes in lately - although several objects are merely on temporary return.
Back in two years ago, Germany was the initial country to repatriate a selection of the renowned Benin artifacts to the West African nation in an attempt to address its "troubled past."
Similar Subjects
- Historical Restoration Initiatives in the Continent
- This Impact of Colonial Past on Contemporary African Heritage
- International Campaigns for the Restitution of Stolen Artefacts