🔗 Share this article

A total of 12 historical items have been formally returned to the Ethiopian nation following being kept by a family in Germany for in excess of a century.

The items, first collected in the 1920's by Germany's representative to the Ethiopian empire a German envoy and his spouse Hedwig, were handed over on midweek to the Ethiopian Studies Institute at the capital's university.

This collection included headpieces, armor and canvases, each considered as historically valuable in Ethiopia.

"The items continue to stand as a mark of the long-standing and friendly relationship between Germany and Ethiopia," said the German diplomat, Germany's representative to Ethiopia.

Dr. Ramon Wyss, whose father was delivered during the family's diplomatic posting in Ethiopia, handed over the items at a event witnessed by Tourism Minister Selamawit Kassa.

He stated that the household's goal to give back the items was to "showcase their appeal with the people and safeguard the culture and history linked to my parent's beginning."

The items were either gifts or purchases, as stated by the relatives.

"We want to thank the Weiss relatives for practically expressing their profound appreciation for the nation by carefully maintaining these artifacts and vitally guaranteeing their repatriation to their proper homeland," commented the tourism minister.

The minister continued that the artefacts would shortly be made accessible to the people for study and scholarly work, describing the action a milestone in preserving the nation's cultural heritage.

"Actions persist to repatriate historical items that are located in the custody of individuals and entities all over the globe," she affirmed.

In the era of imperial control in Africa, numerous of traditional objects were plundered.

The request by the continent's states for the repatriation of looted objects has been responded to by some positive outcomes in the past few years - although several objects are merely on temporary return.

Back in two years ago, Germany was the pioneering nation to give back a portion of the well-known historical items to the West African nation in a bid to address its "troubled legacy."

Connected Subjects

• Historical Restoration Movements in Africa
• The Significance of Colonial History on Contemporary African Culture
• Global Movements for the Restitution of Looted Treasures