STOLEN ARTEFACTS BY BRITISH SOLDIERS RETURNS TO ETHIOPIA AFTER 150 YEARS

Sun 21 November 2021:

After a long fight for their recovery, Ethiopians celebrated the return of priceless antiquities taken by British forces more than 150 years ago.

A ceremonial crown, an imperial shield, a set of silver-embossed horn drinking cups, a handwritten prayer book, crosses, and a necklace are among the items discovered from Britain, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

After defeating Emperor Tewodros II in the Battle of Magdala in 1868 in what was then Abyssinia, the British forces plundered the majority of the items.

Artifacts returned to Ethiopia [Picture: Fana Broadcasting Corporation (FBC)].

More than two months after being formally handed over at a ceremony in London in September, the treasures were unwrapped in front of the media at Ethiopia’s national museum on Saturday.

Many valuable national artifacts are housed abroad in museums or private collections, prompting calls in Africa for Western countries to restore their colonial plunder.

Benin, a West African country, received back over 30 royal artifacts confiscated during France’s occupation over 130 years ago earlier this month.

Artifacts returned to Ethiopia [Picture: the Scheherazade Foundation].

Still fighting

The Ethiopian government is still fighting for Britain to return other stolen artefacts including sacred wooden and stone tabots or tablets, which represent the Ark of the Covenant.

The tabots are housed in the British Museum in London — which has a vast trove of foreign treasures — but have never been put on public display.

Ethiopia is also seeking the remains of Tewodros’ son Prince Alemayehu who was taken to Britain after the emperor committed suicide following his battlefield defeat.

“A variety of artefacts which are a legacy of our culture and values were looted during the battle and taken out of the country illegally,” said Tourism Minister Nasise Challi.

“Countless of our artefacts are found in various museums, research centres and in the hands of private individuals,” she said at Saturday’s event, appealing for their return.

Ethiopia, one of the world’s oldest countries with a long and rich cultural and religious history, has called the ransacking of Magdala a “grave injustice” that has strained relations with the United Kingdom.

Several of the returned items were due to be auctioned but were bought by the non-profit Scheherazade Foundation with the aim of repatriation. Others were acquired from private dealers or investors.

Among them was a collection of mediaeval manuscripts from before the eighteenth century that had been scheduled for auction in the Hague.

Ethiopia is also attempting to reclaim a bible and cross that were set for auction in the United States.

(with agency)

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