[CPProt.net] Ethiopia slowly recovers plundered artefacts

[MSN CPPnet (Ton Cremers)]

Ethiopia slowly recovers plundered artefacts


Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 10/26-2005 - A 16th century soldier`s helmet stolen
from Ethiopia by invading British troops nearly 140 years ago will be
returned to the country on Saturday, official sources confirmed here
Wednesday.

This will be the 10th major piece of plunder that has been handed back to
Ethiopia since 2001 when a Scottish priest returned a sacred Tabot (or holy
altar slab), also taken in the Battle of Magdala in 1868. 

The helmet will be officially handed over at the museum of the Institute of
Ethiopian Studies of Addis Ababa University on 29 October 2005.

Ethiopian campaigners said they believed the trickle of returns, which
started after the formation of AFROMET --the Association for the Return of
the Magdala Ethiopian Treasures - was opening a real monument of returns of
more artefacts that were looted from the country.

They called on organisers of other campaigns for the return of items taken
during Britain`s Empire years from Nigeria, Ghana, China, New Zealand, India
and other countries to copy their successful tactics.

The ancient Portuguese helmet is being returned by Richard Snailham,
President of the Anglo-Ethiopian Society in London, who had the artefact in
his private collection after acquiring it from a descendant of one of the
Magdala campaign`s officers.

Portuguese troops left the helmet in Ethiopia some time between the 16th and
17th centuries when they supported the Ethiopian monarchy against enemies
and rebels.

It was last seen in Emperor Tewodros` treasury before UK soldiers stripped
it bare.

Since 2001, individuals have handed back all of the returned items back. 

Institutions like the British Museum and the British Library still hold
hundreds of priceless manuscripts, crowns and other items looted during the
British storming of Emperor Tewodros` mountain fortress of Magdala following
a diplomatic dispute.

AFROMET has urged other plunder campaigns to copy its "people power" tactics
and make their appeals directly to the British people.

"Institutions like the British Museum have so far turned a deaf ear to our
appeals and the appeals of other campaigns for Nigeria`s Benin bronzes or
Ghana`s Ashanti gold," said Richard Pankhurst, vice-chair of AFROMET in
Addis Ababa.

"But private individuals, many of whom inherited individual pieces of
plunder from their ancestors have been much more receptive.

"Each return seems to inspire someone else to check in their attic and find
a missing piece of Ethiopia`s national treasure. The whole process has a
cumulative effect.

"We believe it is easy for individuals to see the justice of our cause. Only
when individuals start returning stolen items in significant numbers will
the museums and national libraries of the world be shamed into following
suit."

Ten items from the Magdala plunder have been returned to Ethiopia since
2001. These are: Tabot from the Rev John McLuckie, St John`s Episcopal
Church, Edinburgh; Manuscript from anonymous donor in Edinburgh inspired by
Tabot return; Emperor Tewodros` amulet by an anonymous donor.

Others are Tabot bought in Maggs book-dealers by Ian MacLennon; Illuminated
manuscript by Ian MacLennon; Book of Psalms by Andrew Heavens and Amber
Henshaw; Shield from Fiona Wilson, academic in Denmark; Torn manuscript
pages by UK lawyer; Sword from Tony Watts of Bapty Limited; and Helmet by
Richard Snailham. 

A handful of other items were returned between the turn of the century and
the 1970s before any active campaigning was taking place. 

http://www.angolapress-angop.ao/