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Exactly Twelve cultural artefacts have been formally restored to the Ethiopian nation following staying by a German family for more than 100 years.

These treasures, first acquired in the 1920s by the German diplomat to the Ethiopian empire Franz Weiss and his wife Hedwig, were delivered on Wednesday to the Institute of Ethiopian Studies at Addis Ababa University.

The set included royal crowns, armor and paintings, each regarded as historically valuable in the country.

"These artefacts still represent a emblem of the long-standing and amicable connection between Germany and Ethiopia," said Ferdinand von Weyhe, the representative to the East African country.

Dr. Ramon Wyss, whose father was delivered during the family's service in the nation, handed over the objects at a gathering joined by the Minister of Tourism the tourism official.

He said that the household's aim to return the treasures was to "display their splendor with the audience and safeguard the culture and past tied to my parent's origin."

These items were either considered donations or acquisitions, according to the relatives.

"I want to express gratitude to the Weiss relatives for concretely expressing their profound love for the nation by diligently safeguarding these artifacts and crucially securing their repatriation to their legitimate country," said the tourism minister.

The minister noted that the pieces would shortly be made accessible to the people for research and scholarly work, calling the action a significant step in protecting the nation's cultural heritage.

"Actions will continue to return historical artifacts that are held in the hands of individuals and institutions all over the world," she said.

In the era of colonialism in Africa, thousands of historical objects were looted.

The call by the continent's states for the restoration of stolen artefacts has been met with some progress in the past few years - even if several items are merely on short-term display.

Back in the year 2022, Germany was the initial state to give back a selection of the renowned Benin Bronzes to the Nigerian people in an attempt to address its "dark past."

Related Topics

• Historical Repatriation Movements in Africa
• This Impact of Colonial History on Modern Ethiopian Heritage
• International Movements for the Restitution of Stolen Treasures