The MAA also holds a number of other garments that once belonged to Ethiopian royalty Tamami Ono for Varsity
Next year, Ethiopia intends to formally ask the University of Cambridge to hand back artefacts it currently holds, according to reports from The Times.
The Ethiopian authorities will be seeking several items from both Cambridge and Oxford Universities. These objects were taken by British troops after the 1868 Battle of Magdala, and the government is hoping to recover them as part of a broader effort at restitution.
The collection includes rare royal clothing, ancient bibles, parchments, swords, and shields. The Ethiopian Heritage Authority (EHA) is preparing to make its case for their return in the coming year.
Among the pieces the EHA wants back is a cloak once worn by Queen Terunesh, who was Empress consort of Ethiopia. This particular item is kept at Cambridge’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (MAA).
The MAA also has several other garments connected to Ethiopian royalty. Meanwhile, Cambridge University Library holds medieval bibles that were made for the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, as reported by The Telegraph.
Abebaw Ayalew Gella, director general of the EHA, called these artefacts “some of the most important things in the political and cultural history of Ethiopia.” Although they’ll ask for support from the British government in this effort, Oxford and Cambridge along with the Charity Commission will have final say on what happens.
Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie, grandson of Haile Selassie-the last emperor-told The Telegraph that these “items have a lot in terms of inherent identity.” He added: “The younger generation would get pride back by having them return home.”
Just last month, a researcher at Cambridge found about 350,000 African artefacts stored across university collections. Most date back to when Britain ruled various colonies. This followed recent moves like MAA returning 39 artefacts to Uganda and Trinity College giving back four Aboriginal spears during a reparations event last year.
Back in 2022, Cambridge got approval from the Charity Commission to return 116 Benin Bronzes shown at MAA. But that plan stalled last year after it became clear those bronzes were supposed to go to the King of Benin personally instead of Nigeria’s government.
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