In a significant cultural restitution, twelve historical artefacts have been officially returned to Ethiopia after being held by a German family for over a century. The collection, which includes crowns, shields, and paintings of immense cultural and historical value, was originally gathered in the 1920s by Franz Weiss, Germany’s then-envoy to Ethiopia, and his wife Hedwig. The artefacts were ceremoniously handed over to the Institute of Ethiopian Studies at Addis Ababa University on Wednesday. Germany’s current envoy to Ethiopia, Ferdinand von Weyhe, emphasized that these items symbolize the enduring and amicable relationship between the two nations. Professor Ramon Wyss, whose father was born during the family’s diplomatic tenure in Ethiopia, facilitated the return, expressing the family’s desire to share these treasures with the public and preserve the cultural and historical legacy tied to his father’s birthplace. Ethiopia’s Tourism Minister, Selamawit Kassa, lauded the Weiss family for their dedication to preserving and returning these artefacts, marking this event as a pivotal moment in safeguarding Ethiopia’s cultural heritage. The artefacts will soon be accessible to the public for research and academic study. This repatriation aligns with broader efforts by African nations to reclaim looted cultural items, a movement that has seen some success in recent years, including Germany’s 2022 return of the Benin Bronzes to Nigeria as part of its reckoning with colonial history.