– UK agrees to return Emperor Tewodros II’s hair
ADDIS ABABA – Authority for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage said France has pledged to return 3081 heritages. The authority disclosed that after the United Kingdom’s National Army Museum agreed to return Emperor Tewodros II’s hair to Ethiopia.
Desselagn Abebe, Heritage Registration and Inspection Director at Authority told The Ethiopian Herald that the Museum accepted Ethiopian’s request to return the two locks of hair of the renowned emperor which was taken after the British Expedition to Abyssinia in 1968.
For a long period of time, Ethiopia has been officially requesting several countries to return back its treasures including the Kibre Negest, he said.
Several treasures had returned home at a different time by the goodwill of countries, gift, compensation, diplomatic channels, and payment. But, there is no international compulsory law that forces holders to return heritages, he indicated adding, the only viable option is through strong diplomatic negotiation.
“The process of returning other Ethiopian treasures requires extensive diplomatic engagement. For instance, The Axum Obelisk was returned to Ethiopia through the direct diplomatic efforts of the late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi,” he said.
Last year, Ethiopia’s minister for culture and tourism, Hirut Woldemariam, told The Associated Press that “Displaying human parts in websites and museums is inhumane.” As per the request of the ministry, the National Army Museum of British agreed to repatriate the hair locks. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ethiopian Embassy in England set discussions with the Museum on Thursday on the arrangements of the return, he stated.
Besides, the French government has pledged to return 3081 Ethiopian heritages from a single museum.
The lock hair was cut from the head of Emperor Tewodros II who killed himself rather than be taken prisoner by British. This national treasure of the country was taken before 150 years during the British invasion of Ethiopia in 1886. British forces left with manuscripts, crowns, crosses, religious icons, royal, and ecclesiastic vestments, and shields and arms.
“For Ethiopians everywhere, as the locks of hair represent the remains of one of the country’s most revered and beloved leaders, a display of jubilant euphoria is to be expected when it is returned to its rightful home in Ethiopia,” a spokesperson of the museum told BBC.
Alula Pankhurst, the son of Richard Keir Pethick Pankhurst, a British academic, founding member of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies, and former professor at the University of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia tweeted that “Restitution of hair welcome initiative by National Army Museum.”
The Ethiopian Herald March 7, 2019
BY TSEGAYE TILAHUN
