エチオピア、１５０年前に英国軍が略奪の文化財公開

【ＡＦＰ＝時事】エチオピア国立博物館で２０日、英国軍によって１５０年以上前に略奪され、長期にわたる交渉の末に返還された貴重な文化財が報道陣に公開された。（写真は英国から返還された略奪文化財）
　公開されたのは、儀式用の冠や皇帝の盾、動物の角に銀の浮き彫りを施したコップ、手書きの祈祷（きとう）書、十字架やネックレスなど。英国、ベルギー、オランダから回収されたもので、その多くは当時アビシニアと呼ばれていた現エチオピアで、皇帝テオドロス２世を英国軍が破った１８６８年の「マグダラの戦い」の際に略奪された。
　これらの文化財は９月、英ロンドンで行われた返還式典で正式にエチオピア側に引き渡されていた。エチオピア政府によると、略奪文化財の返還としては最大規模となる。
　アフリカでは、植民地時代に欧米諸国が略奪した文化財の返還を求める声が高まっている。多数の国宝レベルの貴重な文化財が、各国の博物館の収蔵品や個人のコレクションとなっている。フランスは今月初め、１３０年前に略奪した王室の宝物など約３０点を旧植民地の西アフリカ・ベナンに返還した。
　エチオピア政府は引き続き、大英博物館が収蔵するタボットなどの略奪文化財を返還するよう英国に求めている。タボットは、聖書で「モーセの十戒」が納められたとされる「契約の箱」を模した木版や石板。
　エチオピアはまた、テオドロス２世が「マグダラの戦い」で敗北し自殺した後、英国に連行された息子アレマエフ王子の遺骨の返還も求めている。
　ナシセ・チャリ文化観光相は２０日、「われわれの文化や価値観を今に伝えるさまざまな文化財が、戦争中に略奪され不法に持ち出された」と述べ、返還するよう訴えた。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/11/22-13:25）

Ethiopia on Saturday hailed the return of precious artefacts looted by British soldiers more than 150 years ago, after a long campaign for their restitution.
The collection -- recovered from Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands -- includes a ceremonial crown, an imperial shield, a set of silver-embossed horn drinking cups, a handwritten prayer book, crosses and a necklace.
Most of the items were plundered by the British army after it defeated Emperor Tewodros II in the Battle of Magdala in 1868 in what was then Abyssinia.
The treasures were unwrapped before the media at Ethiopia's national museum on Saturday, more than two months after they were formally handed over at a ceremony in London in September.
Ethiopia said it was the largest such repatriation of artefects to the country, with its ambassador to Britain, Teferi Melesse, describing it as of huge significance.
Calls have long been mounting in Africa for Western countries to return their colonial spoils, with many prized national treasures held abroad in museums or sometimes private collections.
Earlier this month, the West African state of Benin welcomed back nearly 30 royal treasures seized during France's rule more than 130 years ago.
- 'Great injustice' -
The Ethiopian government is still fighting for Britain to return other stolen artefacts including sacred wooden and stone tabots or tablets, which represent the Ark of the Covenant.
The tabots are housed in the British Museum in London -- which has a vast trove of foreign treasures -- but have never been put on public display.
Ethiopia is also seeking the remains of Tewodros' son Prince Alemayehu who was taken to Britain after the emperor committed suicide following his battlefield defeat.
A variety of artefacts which are a legacy of our culture and values were looted during the battle and taken out of the country illegally, said Tourism Minister Nasise Challi.
Countless of our artefacts are found in various museums, research centres and in the hands of private individuals, she said at Saturday's event, appealing for their return.
Ethiopia, one of the world's oldest countries with a rich and ancient cultural and religious heritage, has said it considers the ransacking of Magdala a great injustice that has been a thorn in relations with Britain.
Several of the returned items were due to be auctioned but were bought by the non-profit Scheherazade Foundation with the aim of repatriation. Others were acquired from private dealers or investors.
Among them was a set of mediaeval manuscripts dating back to before the 18th century, which had been due to be auctioned in the Hague.
Ethiopia is also negotiating for the return of a bible and cross that were set for the auction block in the United States.
These restitutions are taking place in a global context where the role of museums in portraying colonial histories and the legitimacy of displaying looted artefacts is being questioned, Ethiopia's National Heritage Restitution Committee said in a statement in September.