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Exactly 12 cultural artefacts have been officially returned to the Ethiopian nation following being kept by a household from Germany for over a century.

The items, originally gathered in the 1920s by the German diplomat to Ethiopia Franz Weiss and his wife Hedwig, were delivered on midweek to the research center at the university in Addis Ababa.

The assortment featured crowns, armor and artistic works, all considered as historically important in the country.

"These items continue to represent a symbol of the enduring and amicable ties between the German nation and Ethiopia," remarked Germany's envoy, Germany's envoy to the East African country.

Professor a professor, whose parent was born during the family's assignment in the nation, presented the items at a event attended by Tourism Minister Selamawit Kassa.

He stated that the family's aim to give back the treasures was to "share their appeal with the people and preserve the heritage and past linked to my parent's origin."

These objects were either donations or buys, according to the family.

"We want to express gratitude to Professor Weiss's family for concretely expressing their profound affection for Ethiopia by meticulously safeguarding these treasures and crucially securing their homecoming to their rightful nation," stated the minister of tourism.

The minister added that the artefacts would in the near future be made accessible to the public for study and educational purposes, describing the decision a milestone in safeguarding Ethiopia's historical legacy.

"Efforts will continue to repatriate old artifacts that are located in the custody of private persons and organizations throughout the globe," she affirmed.

During colonialism in the African continent, many of traditional items were taken.

The request by African countries for the return of taken objects has been met with a degree of positive outcomes in recent years - even if several items are just on temporary return.

Back in 2022, Germany was the initial state to return a portion of the renowned Benin Bronzes to the Nigerian people in a bid to confront its "complex colonial history."

Connected Subjects

• Cultural Repatriation Efforts in the Continent
• The Impact of Imperial Past on Modern Ethiopian Heritage
• Global Movements for the Restitution of Stolen Items