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Around 12 ancient artefacts were officially returned to the Ethiopian nation after being kept by a German family for over 100 years.

The items, first acquired in the 1920s by the German then-envoy to Ethiopia Franz Weiss and his wife his partner, were transferred on Wednesday to the research center at Addis Ababa University.

This collection contained headpieces, armor and canvases, each regarded as historically important in the country.

"The treasures still represent a mark of the long-standing and amicable connection between Germany and the Ethiopian people," stated the German diplomat, Germany's representative to the East African country.

Dr. Ramon Wyss, whose father was delivered during the household's service in the nation, delivered the objects at a gathering joined by Tourism Minister Selamawit Kassa.

He stated that the family's goal to give back the items was to "share their appeal with the public and preserve the culture and past linked to my father's beginning."

These items were either presents or purchases, as stated by the relatives.

"We would like to express gratitude to the Weiss family for concretely demonstrating their deep affection for the nation by carefully maintaining these artifacts and vitally securing their homecoming to their legitimate country," commented the tourism minister.

She noted that the artefacts would soon be made accessible to the public for investigation and scholarly work, describing the decision a significant step in preserving the nation's cultural heritage.

"Actions are ongoing to return historical objects that are found in the possession of private persons and organizations around the planet," she stated.

In the era of colonial rule in the African continent, numerous of traditional objects were taken.

This call by nations in Africa for the repatriation of taken items has been answered with some progress in the past few years - although a number of items are only on short-term display.

In 2022, the German government was the pioneering country to return a portion of the well-known Benin artifacts to the Nigerian people in a bid to address its "dark colonial history."

Connected Topics

• Cultural Restoration Efforts in the Continent
• The Significance of Colonial History on Contemporary Ethiopian Heritage
• International Movements for the Restitution of Looted Artefacts