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Exactly 12 cultural objects have been formally given back to the Ethiopian nation after remaining by a household from Germany for more than ten decades.

These items, originally gathered in the 1920's by Germany's representative to Ethiopia Franz Weiss and his wife his partner, were delivered on this past Wednesday to the Ethiopian Studies Institute at the capital's university.

This collection contained crowns, armor and artistic works, all viewed as historically significant in Ethiopia.

"The items continue to represent a symbol of the enduring and amicable ties between Germany and Ethiopia," said Ferdinand von Weyhe, the envoy to the East African country.

Professor Ramon Wyss, whose parent was born during the household's assignment in Ethiopia, handed over the objects at a ceremony witnessed by the Minister of Tourism the tourism official.

He said that the family's aim to give back the items was to "showcase their splendor with the people and preserve the culture and past connected to my parent's beginning."

These objects were either donations or acquisitions, based on the family.

"I want to thank the Weiss family for concretely showing their deep love for Ethiopia by diligently preserving these treasures and crucially guaranteeing their return to their legitimate nation," commented the tourism minister.

She noted that the artefacts would shortly be opened to the general audience for investigation and scholarly work, terming the decision a milestone in protecting the nation's historical legacy.

"Initiatives persist to repatriate old artifacts that are located in the hands of individuals and organizations all over the planet," the minister said.

In the era of imperial control in Africa, numerous of cultural artefacts were looted.

The request by nations in Africa for the return of taken objects has been answered with some positive outcomes in the past few years - though some items are merely on short-term display.

Back in the year 2022, Germany was the initial state to return a portion of the well-known Benin Bronzes to Nigeria in a bid to deal with its "complex past."

Connected Subjects

• Historical Restoration Initiatives in Africa
• The Effect of Colonial History on Contemporary African Heritage
• International Movements for the Restitution of Stolen Artefacts