https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230922/lock-of-hair-of-ethiopian-prince-repatriated-after-over-century-and-half-in-uk-report-says-1062285151.html
Ethiopian Prince's Lock of Hair Repatriated After Century and Half in UK, Report Says
Ethiopian Prince's Lock of Hair Repatriated After Century and Half in UK, Report Says
Sputnik Africa
Ethiopian Prince Alemayehu, who was abducted by the British military and forcefully brought to the UK in 1868, died in exile and was buried at the British... 22.09.2023, Sputnik Africa
2023-09-22T17:55+0200
2023-09-22T17:55+0200
2024-04-25T10:22+0200
sub-saharan africa
united kingdom (uk)
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british colonialism
colonialism
east africa
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Lock of hair of the Ethiopan Prince Alemayehu, who was laid to rest at the British Windsor Castle after a decade in exile, was handed over in the United Kingdom to the Ethiopian ambassador to the UK Teferi Melesse Desta, media said.Along with the lock of hair, a shield and three cups, taken from the East African country over 150 year ago, were reportedly returned.According to the outlet, the ambassador noted that the items were "returning to their rightful place… where they can continue to inspire and educate for generations to come," adding that Ethiopia would continue to press the UK to return more objects, taken from the country in colonial times.One of the founders of the Scheherazade Foundation, the non-profit organization facilitating the returns, Tahir Shah, noting the significance of the occasion, said that "this evening is an evening touched with magic," the media reported.This was reportedly echoed by a member of Ethiopia's Heritages Restitution National Committee, Alula Pankhurst, who underlined that "the restitution of Ethiopian artifacts [...] is important for restorative justice and an excellent way to build better relations and collaborations between British and Ethiopian institutions."The prince was ripped out of his home at the age of seven by the British soldiers, who fought against Alemayehu's father, the Ethiopian Emperor Tewodros II. The battle near the emperor's fortress at Magdala (now the village of Amba Mariam) took place after Tewodros II imprisoned several British subjects, trying to persuade the British government into a military alliance.In order not to fall captive to the invading army, the prince's father committed suicide. The British plundered thousands of cultural and religious artifacts, including gold crowns, manuscripts, necklaces and dresses, and also kidnapped Alemayehu and his mother, Empress Tiruwork Wube, who died on the way to the UK. The British crown provided the prince with the financial protection and formal education, during which he was allegedly bullied. Captain Tristram Charles Sawyer Speedy, the man who had accompanied the prince from Ethiopia, took custody of him.According to the Scheherazade Foundation, the lock of hair was originally owned by Captain Speedy. It was found among the family heirlooms by the Speedy's descendant Leonie Turner, the outlet noted.One of the prince's descendants, Fasil Minas, reportedly expressed hope that the handing over of the lock of hair could pave the way for his body to go back to his homeland.As for the Ethiopia's previous attempts to repatriate the prince's remains, in May, Buckingham Palace rejected a request to send back Alemayehu's remains on the grounds that their removal could affect other people buried in the catacombs of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.Moreover, in 2007, Ethiopia's then-President Girma Wolde-Giorgis officially asked Queen Elizabeth II to return the body, but in 2019 Queen Elizabeth II reportedly refused to do so.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230523/uk-refuses-to-return-remains-of-ethiopian-prince-to-his-family-1059419396.html
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230514/india-reportedly-aims-to-return-koh-i-noor-diamond--other-colonial-era-artifacts-from-uk-1059247379.html
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Ethiopian Prince's Lock of Hair Repatriated After Century and Half in UK, Report Says
17:55 22.09.2023 (Updated: 10:22 25.04.2024) Ethiopian Prince Alemayehu, who was abducted by the British military and forcefully brought to the UK in 1868, died in exile and was buried at the British Windsor Castle. In May, London rejected a request by the descendants of the Ethiopian imperial family for the return of the prince's remains to his homeland.
Lock of hair of the Ethiopan Prince Alemayehu, who was laid to rest at the British Windsor Castle after a decade in exile, was handed over in the United Kingdom to the Ethiopian ambassador to the UK Teferi Melesse Desta, media said.
"It's a very important part of our history… life was difficult for him," the diplomat was quoted by the media as saying.
Along with the lock of hair, a shield and three cups, taken from the East African country over 150 year ago, were reportedly returned.
According to the outlet, the ambassador noted that the items were "
returning to their rightful place… where they can continue to inspire and educate for generations to come," adding that Ethiopia would continue to press the UK to return more objects, taken from the country in colonial times.
One of the founders of the Scheherazade Foundation, the non-profit organization facilitating the returns, Tahir Shah, noting the significance of the occasion, said that "this evening is an evening touched with magic," the media reported.
"The returning of this lock of hair is a signal that restitutions can be made in a spirit of goodwill and respect, and we hope that they will inspire other restitutions to take place in the near future," Shah was cited as saying.
This was reportedly echoed by a member of Ethiopia's Heritages Restitution National Committee, Alula Pankhurst, who underlined that "
the restitution of Ethiopian artifacts [...] is important for restorative justice and an excellent way to build better relations and collaborations between British and Ethiopian institutions."
The prince was ripped out of his home at the age of seven by the British soldiers, who fought against Alemayehu's father, the Ethiopian Emperor Tewodros II. The battle near the emperor's fortress at Magdala (now the village of Amba Mariam) took place after Tewodros II imprisoned several British subjects, trying to persuade the British government into a military alliance.
In order not to fall captive to the invading army, the prince's father committed suicide. The British plundered thousands of cultural and religious artifacts, including gold crowns, manuscripts, necklaces and dresses, and also kidnapped Alemayehu and his mother, Empress Tiruwork Wube, who died on the way to the UK.
The British crown provided the prince with the financial protection and formal education, during which he was allegedly bullied. Captain Tristram Charles Sawyer Speedy, the man who had accompanied the prince from Ethiopia, took custody of him.
According to the Scheherazade Foundation, the lock of hair was originally owned by Captain Speedy. It was found among the family heirlooms by the Speedy's descendant Leonie Turner, the outlet noted.
"I felt Prince Alemayehu's hair was a long way from home," Turner was quoted by the media as saying.
One of the prince's descendants, Fasil Minas, reportedly expressed hope that the handing over of the lock of hair could pave the way for his body to go back to his homeland.
As for the Ethiopia's previous attempts to repatriate the prince's remains, in May, Buckingham Palace
rejected a request to send back Alemayehu's remains on the grounds that their removal could affect other people buried in the catacombs of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Moreover, in 2007, Ethiopia's then-President Girma Wolde-Giorgis officially asked Queen Elizabeth II to return the body, but in 2019 Queen Elizabeth II
reportedly refused to do so.
