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Exactly 12 ancient artefacts have been officially given back to Ethiopia after staying by a family in Germany for over 100 years.

The items, first gathered in the 1920's by the German diplomat to the Ethiopian empire Franz Weiss and his wife his partner, were delivered on this past Wednesday to the Ethiopian Studies Institute at Addis Ababa University.

The assortment contained royal crowns, shields and artistic works, each viewed as historically significant in Ethiopia.

"The items still stand as a mark of the lasting and friendly ties between Germany and Ethiopia," remarked Germany's envoy, the ambassador to Ethiopia.

Dr. a professor, whose father was delivered during the family's assignment in the nation, presented the items at a ceremony joined by Tourism Minister the tourism official.

He explained that the family's goal to give back the artefacts was to "display their splendor with the public and preserve the culture and history connected to my father's beginning."

These artefacts were either considered presents or buys, according to the family.

"We would like to express gratitude to Professor Weiss's relatives for concretely showing their profound affection for Ethiopia by diligently safeguarding these items and crucially guaranteeing their homecoming to their rightful country," stated the tourism minister.

The minister added that the items would soon be made accessible to the public for research and scholarly work, calling the move a landmark in safeguarding the nation's national treasures.

"Initiatives persist to bring back ancient artifacts that are held in the hands of private persons and institutions all over the planet," the minister said.

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

This request by nations in Africa for the repatriation of taken objects has been responded to by some success in the past few years - even if a number of artefacts are just on short-term display.

In 2022, the German government was the first country to give back some of the renowned historical items to the West African nation in a bid to address its "complex legacy."

Connected Themes

• Historical Repatriation Movements in the Continent
• The Impact of Colonial Past on Contemporary African Culture
• Global Movements for the Restitution of Looted Artefacts