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A total of 12 historical objects have been formally given back to the Ethiopian nation after remaining by a family in Germany for in excess of 100 years.

The items, first acquired in the early twentieth century by the German then-envoy to the Ethiopian empire Franz Weiss and his wife Hedwig, were handed over on midweek to the research center at the university in Addis Ababa.

The collection contained royal crowns, armor and canvases, each viewed as culturally important in the nation.

"These items continue to stand as a mark of the enduring and positive relationship between the German nation and Ethiopia," said the German diplomat, Germany's representative to Ethiopia.

Professor a professor, whose father was born during the household's diplomatic posting in the nation, presented the artefacts at a event witnessed by the Minister of Tourism the tourism official.

He explained that the household's intention to give back the items was to "showcase their appeal with the people and maintain the heritage and history linked to my father's origin."

The objects were either presents or purchases, based on the relatives.

"I want to express gratitude to Professor Weiss's family for practically expressing their deep love for the nation by carefully safeguarding these items and crucially securing their repatriation to their proper homeland," stated the minister of tourism.

The minister continued that the pieces would in the near future be opened to the public for investigation and educational purposes, describing the decision a significant step in preserving Ethiopia's cultural heritage.

"Actions will continue to bring back ancient artifacts that are found in the possession of collectors and organizations around the globe," the minister affirmed.

In the era of colonialism in the African continent, numerous of cultural items were looted.

The demand by nations in Africa for the return of stolen items has been met with some progress in lately - even if a number of objects are merely on temporary return.

In two years ago, the German government was the pioneering nation to return a portion of the famous historical items to the West African nation in an attempt to deal with its "troubled colonial history."

Similar Subjects

• Cultural Return Efforts in Africa
• The Effect of Imperial Past on Contemporary Ethiopian Culture
• Global Movements for the Restitution of Looted Treasures