Ethiopia: ancient treasures looted in 19th century return to Addis Ababa
The Ethiopian National Museum in the capital Addis Ababa has exhibited works looted in the 19th century and returned to Ethiopia.
Here a view of Addis Ababa (Image illustration).
© GettyImages
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
Several ancient treasures made their return this Saturday, November 20 in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
The works were returned after having spent more than 150 years in Europe.
Advertising
Read more
From our correspondent in Addis Ababa
,
Noé Hochet-Bodin
This is the largest restitution of works of art ever made in Ethiopia.
At the National Museum in Addis Ababa, a series of artefacts from Europe, mainly from the United Kingdom, but also from Belgium and the Netherlands were on display.
Including a crown, an imperial shield, a set of silver cups or a handwritten prayer book.
Ethiopia hails return of looted artefacts #AFP
📸 Amanuel Sileshi pic.twitter.com/QXCDtHn2kc
- Aurelia BAILLY (@AureliaBAILLY) November 20, 2021
The handing over of these items has "
enormous significance
," said the Ethiopian ambassador to London.
Meaning because if Ethiopia was never colonized, several works were looted from it during the conflicts that opposed it to the colonial powers.
The objects returned this Saturday had for example been taken by the British army during the Battle of Magdala in 1868.
Other refunds requested
But Ethiopia is not going to stop there.
She asked the United Kingdom to return other works, such as tablets representing the Ark of the Covenant.
The Horn of Africa country is also negotiating with the United States to organize the return of a bible and a cross, which were to be auctioned.
►Also read: Restitution of African works of art: the embarrassing British heritage
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Ethiopia
UK
United States
Culture