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Around 12 ancient items were ceremoniously restored to Ethiopia after remaining by a German family for more than 100 years.

The items, first collected in the 1920's by the German representative to Ethiopia a German envoy and his spouse his partner, were handed over on this past Wednesday to the research center at the capital's university.

This assortment contained royal crowns, protective shields and artistic works, all regarded as culturally valuable in the country.

"These items still stand as a mark of the lasting and amicable ties between the German nation and the Ethiopian people," remarked the German diplomat, Germany's ambassador to the East African country.

Professor a professor, whose parent was born during the family's assignment in Ethiopia, presented the artefacts at a ceremony attended by the Minister of Tourism Selamawit Kassa.

He explained that the household's aim to give back the items was to "display their splendor with the people and maintain the heritage and past connected to my parent's beginning."

The objects were either donations or acquisitions, as stated by the household.

"We want to express gratitude to the Weiss household for concretely expressing their sincere affection for the nation by diligently preserving these artifacts and importantly securing their repatriation to their legitimate nation," said the tourism minister.

She continued that the pieces would shortly be made accessible to the people for investigation and educational purposes, describing the action a landmark in preserving Ethiopia's national treasures.

"Initiatives will continue to bring back historical objects that are held in the hands of individuals and institutions throughout the globe," the minister affirmed.

In the era of colonialism in the African continent, thousands of traditional items were plundered.

This demand by nations in Africa for the repatriation of taken objects has been met with a degree of progress in recent years - though several items are merely on temporary return.

Back in 2022, the German government was the pioneering nation to give back a selection of the famous Benin artifacts to Nigeria in a bid to address its "dark colonial history."

Connected Subjects

• Historical Repatriation Efforts in Africa
• The Impact of Imperial History on Modern African Culture
• Global Campaigns for the Return of Stolen Items