Ethiopia receives 12 historical artifacts preserved in Germany for 100 years

Twelve historical artifacts kept by a German family for more than 100 years have been officially returned to Ethiopia.

The artifacts, originally collected in the 1920s by Franz Weiss, then the German envoy to Ethiopia, and his wife Hedwig, were handed over to Addis Ababa University’s Institute of Ethiopian Studies on Wednesday.

The collection includes crowns, shields and paintings, all of which are considered culturally and historically significant in Ethiopia.

“These artifacts remain a symbol of the long-standing friendly relations between Germany and Ethiopia,” said Germany’s envoy to Ethiopia Ferdinand von Wehe.

Professor Ramon Wyss, whose father was born while the family held diplomatic posts in Ethiopia, handed over the items at a ceremony attended by Tourism Minister Selamawit Kassa.

He said the family’s goal in returning the artifacts was to “share their beauty with the public and preserve the culture and history associated with my father’s birth.”

The items were either gifts or purchased items, according to family members.

“I would like to thank Professor Weiss’s family for their careful preservation of these artifacts and their return to their rightful home, a tangible expression of their deep love for Ethiopia,” the Tourism Minister said.

She added that the works would soon be open to the public for research and academic study, calling the move a milestone in the preservation of Ethiopia’s cultural heritage.

“We will continue our efforts to recover ancient artifacts found in the hands of individuals and institutions around the world,” she said.

Thousands of artifacts were looted during colonial rule in Africa.

In recent years, African countries have had some success in calling for the return of looted items – although some were simply loaned.

In 2022, Germany became the first country to return some of the famous Benin bronzes to Nigeria to address its “dark colonial history.”