ADDISABABA – After a century and a half hidden in private collections, 13 stolen Ethiopian artifacts have finally returned home after months of negotiations.
“The history of our country’s ancient civilization, the artifacts, the fingerprints of indigenous knowledge, the culture … have been plundered in the war and smuggled out illegally,” said Ethiopian tourism minister Nasise Challa.
The objects, which include an intricate processional cross, a richly colored triptych depicting the crucifixion of Jesus, and an ornate red and brass imperial shield, are part of the largest restitution act in Ethiopian history, officials said.
These artifacts were taken in 1868 after the Battle of Maqdala between the British and Ethiopian Empires. Some of the items were offered at an auction in Britain in June by a private seller descended from a British soldier who fought in Maqdala.
“There are many artifacts that have been looted from Maqdala,” ; said Teferi Meles, Ethiopia’s ambassador to the UK, where many of the treasures were located. “We haven’t been able to bring them all back, but this is the first time in the country’s history that we have been reporting looted artifacts in this quantity.”
Many of the items were acquired by the Scheherazade Foundation, a non-profit cultural organization, and delivered to the Ethiopian embassy in September. They were returned to Addis Ababa this weekend and will be on display in Ethiopian museums. But the work is far from done, officials said.
“We have entered into negotiations with the British Museum to bring back 12 tabots,” said Teferi.
The Tabots are replicas of the Ark of the Covenant that are sacred in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, one of the oldest churches in the world. The tabots were also taken after the battle of Maqdala.
“We believe we will be successful in bringing them back and negotiations will continue, with other artifacts overseas,” said Teferi.
The British Museum said it held “cordial discussions” with an Ethiopian delegation in September and noted that “the Museum has long-standing friendly relations with the National Museum in Addis Ababa and the Ethiopian Tewahedo Orthodox Church in London and Ethiopia. “.
British museums have long resisted campaigns to return works of art, often citing legislation banning them from disposing of their collections.
But the debate flared up and the British Museum said last year that it would be lending some works from Nigeria to a new museum due to open in 2023.
“At this moment, it is clear that our treasures are being destroyed; it is obvious that our treasures are being looted and illegally taken out of the country, “said Teferi, without giving details.
Ethiopia has been mired in conflict for over a year, with the federal government fighting the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and cultural artifacts believed to have been damaged in fighting.
“If there is no treasure, it means there is no history; if there is no history, there is no nation, “said Teferi. – Reuters
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