The East African nation Welcomes Cultural Treasures Following a Century Stay in Germany

A total of 12 cultural objects were formally restored to Ethiopia following being kept by a German family for over 100 years.

The artefacts, first gathered in the 1920's by Germany's then-envoy to Ethiopia a German envoy and his wife Hedwig, were delivered on Wednesday to the Ethiopian Studies Institute at the university in Addis Ababa.

This set contained crowns, armor and canvases, each considered as culturally significant in the country.

"The items still serve as a emblem of the long-standing and friendly ties between Germany and the Ethiopian people," stated Ferdinand von Weyhe, Germany's representative to Ethiopia.

Professor a professor, whose father was delivered during the household's service in Ethiopia, handed over the items at a ceremony joined by the Minister of Tourism the tourism official.

He explained that the household's goal to restore the items was to "share their appeal with the people and safeguard the heritage and past tied to my father's beginning."

The objects were either donations or buys, according to the relatives.

"I would like to thank the Weiss relatives for concretely showing their deep appreciation for Ethiopia by carefully preserving these items and crucially ensuring their homecoming to their legitimate homeland," commented the minister of tourism.

The minister added that the items would in the near future be made accessible to the public for investigation and academic study, describing the action a milestone in preserving Ethiopia's historical legacy.

"Initiatives will continue to return ancient items that are located in the hands of private persons and institutions throughout the world," she affirmed.

In the era of colonialism in Africa, many of traditional objects were looted.

This call by nations in Africa for the return of taken items has been responded to by some success in lately - even if some items are merely on temporary return.

Back in two years ago, the German government was the pioneering nation to give back a portion of the well-known Benin Bronzes to the Nigerian people in an attempt to address its "complex past."

Connected Themes

• Cultural Repatriation Movements in Africa
• This Significance of Colonial History on Contemporary Ethiopian Heritage
• International Movements for the Return of Looted Treasures