Ethiopia Receives Twelve Historic Artefacts Held in Germany for a Century
Ethiopia has taken a significant step in reclaiming its cultural heritage with the official handover of twelve historic artefacts from Germany, which had been in private hands since the 1920s. The collection, which includes ceremonial crowns and royal gifts, was returned by the descendants of a German envoy and will now enrich the nation’s cultural and academic resources.
A collection of twelve historic Ethiopian artefacts was officially handed over to the Institute of Ethiopian Studies (IES) at Addis Ababa University on Tuesday, marking a landmark moment in international heritage restitution. These culturally significant objects, which include two ceremonial crowns, decorated shields, a sword, paintings, and gifts once presented by Regent Ras Tafari Mekonnen (later Emperor Haile Selassie I), were returned by the descendants of Fritz Weiss, a German envoy who served in Addis Ababa between 1921 and 1928. Professor Ramon Wyss and his niece Alice Weiss returned the items, emphasizing their desire to share the beauty and historical significance of the pieces with the Ethiopian public and scholars.
The handover was formalized at a ceremony attended by Tourism Minister Selamawit Kassa and German Embassy officials, underscoring the enduring friendship between the two nations, which are celebrating 120 years of diplomatic relations. Minister Kassa highlighted the historical and cultural significance of the collection, noting that the artefacts offer a “unique glimpse into Ethiopian arts and craftsmanship of the 1920s.” She stressed that the repatriated items will not only enrich the IES’s museum and academic resources but will also serve as an important attraction for visitors, complementing items previously repatriated from other countries.
The German Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires, Dr. Ferdinand von Weyhe, emphasized that the return was a private donation by the Weiss family, with the embassy playing a supportive logistical role. The family’s initiative is part of a growing global movement to return cultural heritage taken during colonial and post-colonial eras. The returned artefacts are expected to be featured in an exhibition at the Goethe-Institut, along with rare photographs taken by Envoy Weiss and his wife Hedwig, providing further insight into Ethiopian life during the 1920s. This successful repatriation effort is viewed by the Ministry of Tourism as strengthening Ethiopia’s ongoing mission to reclaim its ancient cultural treasures held abroad.
