The East African nation Receives Cultural Artefacts After a 100-Year Holding in a German Family
Exactly Twelve historical artefacts were officially given back to the Ethiopian nation after being kept by a family in Germany for over a century.
The items, initially gathered in the 1920's by Germany's representative to Ethiopia Franz Weiss and his wife his partner, were transferred on Wednesday to the Institute of Ethiopian Studies at the capital's university.
The assortment included headpieces, shields and artistic works, each considered as historically significant in Ethiopia.
"The items continue to serve as a emblem of the lasting and amicable relationship between the German nation and Ethiopia," remarked Germany's envoy, Germany's representative to Ethiopia.
Dr. Ramon Wyss, whose parent was delivered during the household's assignment in the nation, delivered the objects at a gathering witnessed by Tourism Minister Selamawit Kassa.
He explained that the household's intention to give back the artefacts was to "display their appeal with the people and maintain the culture and history linked to my parent's birth."
The items were either presents or purchases, as stated by the relatives.
"I want to express gratitude to the Weiss family for practically showing their profound appreciation for Ethiopia by meticulously preserving these items and crucially ensuring their repatriation to their legitimate homeland," commented the tourism minister.
The minister added that the items would shortly be opened to the general audience for research and educational purposes, terming the move a milestone in safeguarding the nation's national treasures.
"Actions will continue to repatriate historical items that are found in the custody of private persons and institutions throughout the planet," the minister said.
In the era of imperial control in the African continent, many of historical objects were taken.
This call by nations in Africa for the restoration of looted items has been met with a degree of success in lately - even if a number of artefacts are merely on short-term display.
In two years ago, the German government was the pioneering country to give back a selection of the well-known Benin Bronzes to the Nigerian people in a bid to address its "troubled colonial history."
Related Topics
- Cultural Repatriation Movements in the Continent
- The Effect of Imperial History on Modern African Heritage
- International Campaigns for the Restitution of Stolen Artefacts
