Rare Ethiopian manuscript stolen by British forces triggers restitution row
Summary
A rare Ethiopian manuscript called the Gondarine Gospel, stolen nearly 160 years ago by British forces from Emperor Tewodros II, appeared for sale at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. Ethiopian officials demanded its return on moral and ethical grounds, but the rare book dealer argued there are no legal rules forcing its return.Key Facts
- The Gondarine Gospel is an ancient Ethiopian bible taken from Emperor Tewodros II's library during a British military campaign in the 1860s.
- The manuscript is written in Ge’ez, an ancient language, and has 235 colorful illustrations from the Gospels of Luke and John.
- It was listed for sale at $250,000 by Inlibris, a rare books dealer based in Vienna.
- Ethiopian authorities called for the manuscript to be removed from sale and returned to Ethiopia, citing moral and ethical reasons.
- The rare books dealer said there are no legal grounds for restitution because laws against looting cultural items did not exist before the 18th century.
- The manuscript is important for understanding Ethiopian religious art, culture, and history, not just as a religious text.
- The debate highlights broader global discussions about returning stolen cultural treasures from Africa held by Western collectors.
- Emperor Tewodros II ruled Ethiopia from 1855 to 1868 and collected many treasures, making his library a significant historic collection.
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