The East African nation Welcomes Cultural Treasures Following a Century Residence in a German Family
A total of 12 cultural items have been officially restored to Ethiopia after staying by a family in Germany for more than a century.
The items, originally acquired in the 1920s by Germany's diplomat to Ethiopia Franz Weiss and his spouse Hedwig, were delivered on midweek to the research center at the university in Addis Ababa.
This set featured headpieces, armor and canvases, each viewed as historically important in Ethiopia.
"The artefacts continue to serve as a emblem of the enduring and amicable connection between the German nation and Ethiopia," remarked Germany's envoy, the representative to Ethiopia.
Professor Ramon Wyss, whose father was born during the family's diplomatic posting in Ethiopia, handed over the items at a gathering attended by Tourism Minister Selamawit Kassa.
He explained that the household's goal to give back the items was to "showcase their beauty with the audience and safeguard the culture and past linked to my parent's origin."
These items were either considered gifts or acquisitions, based on the family.
"We would like to express gratitude to the Weiss household for concretely demonstrating their deep affection for the nation by carefully safeguarding these items and vitally ensuring their return to their proper homeland," commented the official.
The minister noted that the artefacts would soon be available to the people for research and scholarly work, calling the move a significant step in protecting Ethiopia's historical legacy.
"Initiatives will continue to repatriate ancient objects that are found in the hands of collectors and entities around the globe," she said.
In the era of colonial rule in the African continent, numerous of cultural artefacts were looted.
This demand by African countries for the return of stolen objects has been met with a degree of positive outcomes in the past few years - though a number of artefacts are just on temporary return.
In 2022, the German government was the pioneering state to repatriate a portion of the renowned historical items to the West African nation as part of an effort to address its "troubled past."
Similar Topics
- Historical Repatriation Movements in Africa
- The Significance of Imperial History on Modern African Heritage
- Global Campaigns for the Return of Stolen Treasures