AFROMET
Encyclopedia
AFROMET is an organization seeking the return of looted treasures to Ethiopia.
in 1868, the victorious British expedition looted a great many books and artifacts not only from the city of Maqdala but also from the church Ethiopean Christian church of Medhane Alem.
According to Henry M. Stanley, the loot included "an infinite variety of gold, and silver and brass crosses", as well as "heaps of parchment royally illuminated". Fifteen elephants and almost two hundred mules were required to bear the loot to the nearby Dalanta Plain for auction. Richard Holmes
, then Assistant in the British Museum's Department of Manuscripts, purchased 350 manuscripts and various solid goods, such as the crown of the Abun (Head of the Ethiopian Church).
Most of the loot is still missing; some of it is known to be held in public collections such as the British Museum
. For example, manuscript in the Bodleian Library
a pencil note: "taken from a church at Maqdala in 1868".
In the mid-20th century, world law and opinion gradually came to ban looting
, most notably codified in the Fourth Geneva Convention
. A problem remained as to the status of goods looted previously. A number of efforts to return cultural items grew up around the world, of which AFROMET is one.
Lady Valerie Meux bequeathed her collection of Ethiopian manuscripts to Emperor Menilek II, but her will was overturned shortly after her death in 1910, on the grounds that Menilek was dead when Lady Meux died (which, in fact, was untrue; he died in 1913 and, at any rate, he had heirs).
The British Government occasionally returned some of the looted items. In 1965, Queen Elizabeth II returned to Emperor Haile Sellassie the royal cap and seal of Tewodros II
.
AFROMET was formed to systematically lobby for the repatriation of the objects, using legal means and public pressure. So far 10 items have been returned by private donors including a hand-written Book of Psalms
, two Tabot
s and a shield. More than 460 items are still being claimed.
History
After the Battle of MagdalaBattle of Magdala
The Battle of Magdala was fought in April 1868 between British and Abyssinian forces at Magdala, from the Red Sea coast, which at that time was the capital city of Abyssinia...
in 1868, the victorious British expedition looted a great many books and artifacts not only from the city of Maqdala but also from the church Ethiopean Christian church of Medhane Alem.
According to Henry M. Stanley, the loot included "an infinite variety of gold, and silver and brass crosses", as well as "heaps of parchment royally illuminated". Fifteen elephants and almost two hundred mules were required to bear the loot to the nearby Dalanta Plain for auction. Richard Holmes
Richard Holmes
Richard Holmes may refer to:* Richard Holmes , American actor* Richard Holmes , British biographer* Richard Holmes , British soldier and military historian...
, then Assistant in the British Museum's Department of Manuscripts, purchased 350 manuscripts and various solid goods, such as the crown of the Abun (Head of the Ethiopian Church).
Most of the loot is still missing; some of it is known to be held in public collections such as the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
. For example, manuscript in the Bodleian Library
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library...
a pencil note: "taken from a church at Maqdala in 1868".
In the mid-20th century, world law and opinion gradually came to ban looting
Looting
Looting —also referred to as sacking, plundering, despoiling, despoliation, and pillaging—is the indiscriminate taking of goods by force as part of a military or political victory, or during a catastrophe, such as during war, natural disaster, or rioting...
, most notably codified in the Fourth Geneva Convention
Fourth Geneva Convention
The Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, commonly referred to as the Fourth Geneva Convention and abbreviated as GCIV, is one of the four treaties of the Geneva Conventions. It was adopted in August 1949, and defines humanitarian protections for civilians...
. A problem remained as to the status of goods looted previously. A number of efforts to return cultural items grew up around the world, of which AFROMET is one.
Progress
The Ethiopean government started requesting the return of the looted goods within three years of the battle, with some small success. However, progress in general was slow.Lady Valerie Meux bequeathed her collection of Ethiopian manuscripts to Emperor Menilek II, but her will was overturned shortly after her death in 1910, on the grounds that Menilek was dead when Lady Meux died (which, in fact, was untrue; he died in 1913 and, at any rate, he had heirs).
The British Government occasionally returned some of the looted items. In 1965, Queen Elizabeth II returned to Emperor Haile Sellassie the royal cap and seal of Tewodros II
Tewodros II of Ethiopia
Tewodros II was the Emperor of Ethiopia from 1855 until his death....
.
AFROMET was formed to systematically lobby for the repatriation of the objects, using legal means and public pressure. So far 10 items have been returned by private donors including a hand-written Book of Psalms
Psalms
The Book of Psalms , commonly referred to simply as Psalms, is a book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible...
, two Tabot
Tabot
Tabot , is a Ge'ez word referring to a replica of the Tablets of Law, onto which the Biblical Ten Commandments were inscribed, used in the practices of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Tabot can also refer to a replica of the Ark of the Covenant...
s and a shield. More than 460 items are still being claimed.