After a century and a half, Ethiopian artefacts return home

Addis Ababa, Nov. 23 (BNA): After a century and a half of private collections being hidden, 13 stolen Ethiopian artifacts have returned home after months of negotiations.

“Our country’s ancient civilization history, handicrafts, the imprints of indigenous knowledge, their culture… were looted in the war and illegally smuggled,” said Ethiopian Tourism Minister Nasis Shala.

Officials said the items, which include an intricate procession cross, a colorful trio depicting the crucifixion of Christ, and an ornate red and copper imperial shield, are part of the largest reparation operation in Ethiopia’s history.

These artifacts were taken in 1868 after the Battle of Muqdala between the British and Ethiopian Empires. A private seller, descended from a British soldier who fought in Maqdala, offered some of the pieces at an auction in Britain in June.

“There are many artifacts that have been looted from Maqdala,” said Tefri Meles, Ethiopia’s ambassador to the UK, where many of the treasures are located. “We were not able to return all of them, but this is the first time in the country’s history to return the looted artifacts in this quantity.”

Many things were acquired by the Scheherazade Foundation, a cultural non-profit, and they were handed over to the Ethiopian Embassy in September. They have been returned to Addis Ababa this weekend and will be on display in Ethiopian museums. But officials said the work was not finished yet.

“We have started negotiations with the British Museum to return 12 coffins,” Tveri said.

Tabots are replicas of the Ark of the Covenant sacred in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, one of the oldest churches in the world. The sarcophagi were also taken after the Battle of Muqdala.

“We believe we will be successful in getting them back and negotiations will continue with other artifacts abroad,” Tveri said.

The British Museum said it had “friendly discussions” with an Ethiopian delegation in September, and noted that “the Museum has longstanding and friendly relations with the National Museum in Addis Ababa and the Ethiopian Orthodox Unification Church in London and Ethiopia.”

British museums have long resisted campaigns to return artworks, often citing legislation preventing them from disposing of their collections.

But controversy raged, and the British Museum said last year it would loan some artwork from Nigeria to a new museum there that is due to open in 2023.

“At this moment, it is clear that our treasures are being destroyed, and our treasures are clearly being looted and smuggled out of the country illegally,” Tveri said, without elaborating.

Ethiopia has been mired in conflict for more than a year, with the federal government battling the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and cultural artifacts believed to have been damaged in the fighting.

“If there is no treasure, then there is no history, and if there is no history, then there is no nation,” Tveri said.

HF