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Exactly 12 ancient artefacts have been officially given back to Ethiopia after being kept by a family in Germany for more than ten decades.

These artefacts, originally collected in the 1920s by the German representative to the Ethiopian empire Franz Weiss and his spouse Hedwig, were transferred on this past Wednesday to the Institute of Ethiopian Studies at the university in Addis Ababa.

The collection included royal crowns, shields and artistic works, all viewed as culturally important in the country.

"These treasures still serve as a mark of the enduring and positive relationship between the German nation and the Ethiopian people," remarked Ferdinand von Weyhe, the ambassador to the East African country.

Professor Ramon Wyss, whose parent was delivered during the family's assignment in the nation, handed over the objects at a ceremony joined by the Minister of Tourism the tourism official.

He said that the family's goal to return the treasures was to "display their splendor with the audience and safeguard the heritage and history linked to my father's beginning."

The items were either considered presents or purchases, based on the household.

"I want to thank the Weiss relatives for practically expressing their sincere appreciation for Ethiopia by carefully maintaining these items and importantly securing their repatriation to their proper homeland," said the minister of tourism.

She noted that the items would shortly be opened to the people for investigation and educational purposes, describing the decision a landmark in protecting Ethiopia's national treasures.

"Initiatives will continue to bring back old items that are located in the custody of private persons and institutions throughout the world," the minister stated.

In the era of colonial rule in Africa, thousands of cultural artefacts were taken.

This request by nations in Africa for the restoration of looted items has been met with some positive outcomes in recent years - although a number of objects are just on short-term display.

Back in 2022, Germany was the initial nation to repatriate some of the well-known historical items to the West African nation as part of an effort to deal with its "complex colonial history."

Related Themes

• Historical Repatriation Movements in Africa
• The Effect of Colonial Past on Modern Ethiopian Heritage
• Global Movements for the Return of Stolen Artefacts