Dutch return symbolic Ethiopia crown
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy
Ahmed and the Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation,
Sigrid Kaag, were present at the festive handing over ceremony in Addis Ababa.
The 18th century
crown, which disappeared from the Holy Trinity Church in the village of
Cheleqot 21 years ago, turned out to have been in the Dutch port of Rotterdam
for many years in the custody of Sirak Asfaw, a Dutch national of Ethiopian
origin.
Last year, Asfaw got in touch
with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the mediation of art detective
Arthur Brand, to discuss how to return this important cultural artifact to
Ethiopia, and following a meeting between Kaag and Abiy, the crown was officially
handed over at a special ceremony.
Asfaw himself was also present.
“We’re honoured and delighted to
have been able to facilitate the rightful return,” Kaag said. “This is the
crowning achievement of returning this heritage to its rightful place.”
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