Ethiopian Informer
ENA photo shows the shield of Emperor Tewodros II, an artifact looted from Ethiopia during the 1868 Magdala War between Ethiopia and the UK, upon its return to Ethiopia.
ADDIS ABABA (EI): The Ethiopian government has intensified efforts to identify and recover the country’s looted artifacts from abroad.
The Ethiopian Heritage Authority said that several tasks are being carried out to expedite the return of the country’s valuable artifacts that were looted and smuggled out of Ethiopia, and currently under the collection of various institutions and individuals abroad.
In 2020, the East African country formed the Heritages Restitution National Committee to facilitate the return of its treasured looted artifacts. The national committee, which brings together prominent figures, historians, and professionals, has been exerting efforts to bring back the looted heritages through various diplomatic channels.
Abebaw Ayalew, Director-General of Ethiopian Heritage Authority, said that as part of the coordinated national efforts, a comprehensive document listing down the East African country’s “important looted artifacts” has been recently submitted to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as evidence to facilitate their return, state-run Ethiopian News Agency reported Sunday.
Historical records show that hoards of Ethiopia’s treasured artifacts were historically smuggled out of the country, in which many of these artifacts were looted by invading European forces. During the 1868 British invasion of Ethiopia, British forces seized numerous Ethiopian artifacts, including ceremonial items and religious symbols. Numerous other Ethiopian artifacts were also looted by Italian forces during the second Italian invasion of Ethiopia around 1935.
Noting recent successes in repatriating the country’s looted artifacts over the past five years, Abebaw said such artifact restitution efforts also involve legally halting auctions for the sale of these artifacts in various countries.
The director general said that the Armor of Emperor Tewodros II, Ethiopian Order of Star, and the Mantle of Ras Desta Damtew – a notable Ethiopian general executed during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, as well as other significant items were halted from auctions and returned home during the past Ethiopian fiscal year that ended on July 7.
In November last year, the shield of Emperor Tewodros II – an artifact looted from Ethiopia during the 1868 British invasion of Ethiopia, returned to the East African country from the UK after some 156 years. The shield had been slated for public auction but was withdrawn following pressure from the Ethiopian government, marking “a significant achievement” in the East African nation’s continued campaign to recover its cultural heritage.
