BY ESSEYE MENGISTE
ADDIS ABABA– Ethiopia Heritage Authority (EHA) launched a temporary exhibition to display returned artifacts looted during the Battle of Maqdala in 1868 at different times.
National Museum Director with the Ethiopian Heritage Authority, DemerewDagne told The Ethiopian Herald during the exhibition display that there are 20 heritages returned from various countries at different times. Those returned heritages were stolen 150 years ago during Mekdela battle, and they are returned from England, America, the Netherlands and Denmark.
“The aim of the exhibition is to portray the artifacts to the general public of Ethiopia. Besides, it helps prevent illegal artifacts movement. It is also an opportunity to create awareness among the public so as to prevent illegal extraction of artifacts in the future. The exhibition will last for 10 consecutive days starting from yesterday,” he added.
There are many returned heritages from the above listed countries, but due to lack of space we have got only 20 artifacts exhibited and those looted heritages are returned over the last 3 years, Demerew said.
Demerew further elucidated that the heritages are returned from abroad following the collaborative effort of National Heritage Recovery Committee, Embassies, individuals, Scheherazade Foundation to the Ethiopian Ambassador in London, British Embassy of Ethiopia and others.
“Our diplomatic relationship determines conditions to get remaining heritages returned from other foreign countries. For instance, Emmanuel Macron helps us return our heritages from France. Therefore, we have to work hard with stakeholders to return other heritages stolen or illegally taken from Ethiopia,” he added.
Heritage Registration and Monitoring Director with the Ethiopian Heritage Authority, Dessalegn Abebaw told EH that the country is relentlessly working with many stakeholders to return other artifacts looted during the battle of Mekdela. The Authority is providing people of National Interlope, police, INSA and so on with various awareness creations with a view to preventing illegal trafficking of heritages or artifacts.
“As heritage is the commemoration of a nation’s work and creative activity, when we say that a nation has heritage, it means that it has a history, honor, and evidence that raises its acceptance. Therefore, it is important to understand that the care and protection of heritage is the same as the protection of historical evidence,” Desalegn added.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 25 MARCH 2023
