A shield belonging to Emperor Tewodros II of Ethiopia has returned home after 156 years.
The artifact, looted by British forces in the 1868 Magdala War, arrived from the United Kingdom, as reported by local media on Friday.
The ceremonial handover was attended by Ethiopian Heritage Protection Authority officials and descendants of war veterans.
According to the Ethiopian Press Agency, the event was a momentous occasion for all present.
The Royal Ethiopian Trust (RET) successfully reclaimed the shield after discussions with UK-based auction house Anderson & Garland.
Originally set for auction in February, the shield was withdrawn after pressure from the Ethiopian government.
This repatriation is a key victory in Ethiopia’s campaign to retrieve its cultural heritage.
The Battle of Magdala, where the shield was taken, marked the final clash of the British Expedition to Abyssinia in April 1868.
Following Emperor Tewodros II’s defeat, he took his life, and his son, Prince Alemayehu, was taken to Britain, where he died in 1879.
