AFTER 156 years, the shield of Emperor Tewodros II, looted by British forces during the 1868 Magdala War, has been returned to Ethiopia. The ceremonial handover, a historic event, was attended by representatives from the Ethiopian Heritage Protection Authority and descendants of soldiers who fought in the Magdala War, according to reports by the Ethiopian Press Agency.
This significant artifact, central to Ethiopia’s heritage, was repatriated through the efforts of the Royal Ethiopian Trust (RET), which engaged in negotiations with the UK-based auction house Anderson & Garland. The shield had been scheduled for auction in February but was pulled from sale following appeals by the Ethiopian government, a critical success in Ethiopia’s campaign to reclaim its cultural treasures.
A symbol of Ethiopia’s history and sovereignty
The Battle of Magdala marked the climax of the British Expedition to Abyssinia in April 1868, a conflict in which British forces led by General Robert Napier clashed with Emperor Tewodros II’s army. Following his defeat, Emperor Tewodros took his own life to avoid capture, a final act that became emblematic of Ethiopian resilience against foreign incursions.
In the aftermath of the battle, Tewodros’s son, Prince Alemayehu, was taken to Britain, where he remained until his death at age 18 in 1879. British forces seized many Ethiopian artifacts during the conflict, including religious relics and ceremonial items, many of which were displayed in British museums and private collections.
Ethiopia’s campaign for heritage repatriation
The return of Emperor Tewodros’s shield underscores Ethiopia’s broader commitment to reclaiming its cultural heritage, an effort that has gained momentum in recent years. The Ethiopian government, alongside organisations like the Royal Ethiopian Trust, has intensified efforts to locate and repatriate artifacts removed during the Magdala War and other periods of conflict.
Ethiopian officials and campaigners celebrated the shield’s return, seeing it as both a moral victory and a step forward in restoring Ethiopia’s historical legacy.
Credit: Africabriefing
