The East African nation Welcomes Historic Items After a 100-Year Holding in German Hands

A total of 12 cultural objects have been formally returned to the Ethiopian nation following being kept by a family in Germany for in excess of 100 years.

These items, first collected in the 1920's by Germany's then-envoy to the Ethiopian empire Franz Weiss and his wife Hedwig, were transferred on this past Wednesday to the Institute of Ethiopian Studies at Addis Ababa University.

The set contained crowns, shields and paintings, all regarded as culturally significant in the country.

"These items continue to serve as a emblem of the enduring and friendly connection between Germany and the Ethiopian people," said the German diplomat, the ambassador to Ethiopia.

Professor a professor, whose parent was born during the household's diplomatic posting in the nation, handed over the objects at a event joined by the Minister of Tourism the tourism official.

He said that the family's intention to give back the items was to "display their appeal with the people and safeguard the heritage and past connected to my parent's origin."

The items were either gifts or acquisitions, based on the household.

"I want to express gratitude to Professor Weiss's family for actively expressing their deep appreciation for the nation by carefully safeguarding these treasures and importantly securing their return to their legitimate homeland," said the minister of tourism.

She added that the items would soon be available to the public for research and educational purposes, terming the move a landmark in protecting the nation's historical legacy.

"Initiatives will continue to bring back historical items that are found in the possession of individuals and organizations all over the globe," the minister affirmed.

In the era of colonial rule in Africa, thousands of cultural objects were looted.

This demand by nations in Africa for the return of stolen objects has been answered with certain positive outcomes in lately - though several objects are just on short-term display.

In the year 2022, Germany was the pioneering country to repatriate some of the famous historical items to the West African nation as part of an effort to confront its "troubled colonial history."

Similar Themes

• Cultural Repatriation Initiatives in the Continent
• The Significance of Colonial History on Contemporary Ethiopian Culture
• Global Campaigns for the Restitution of Stolen Treasures