Updated - Tuesday 2nd June 2004

Emperor Tewodros's shield was returned to Ethiopia from Britain on Tuesday 18th May 2004. The shield was presented to the Institute of Ethiopian Studies Museum, via AFROMET, on 27th May at press conference in the afternoon.

It was handed to University President Andreas by Professor Fiona Wilson of Roskilde University, Denmark, a professor of International Development Studies. The shield had been in the possession of her family since it was acquired by her grandfather in Glasgow in the 1890s. He had never been to Ethiopia.

Professor Wilson feels strongly that the shield is part of Ethiopia's heritage, and as such it should be returned.  

“Throughout my childhood the shield was hanging in the dining room of my parents’ house. Everyone believed it was Scottish but I discovered that I had become, without realising it, the keeper of a small part of Ethiopia’s historical heritage and national treasure and decided it should be returned.”

The Professor lives in Denmark so she had to travel to London to find the family heirloom which has now been safely repatriated.

Emperor Tewodros' Shield. Photo courtesy of Professor Richard Pankhurst.

Professor Richard Pankhurst of AFROMET, who had been in correspondence with Professor Wilson for several months said, “the shield is finely decorated with silver, a great example of Ethiopian workmanship.”

Background Notes

• The shield was taken by British troops who invaded the town of Magdala in 1868 and carried out widespread looting.

• The shield joins Tewodros’ Crown and Amulet, both of which have previously been returned. Other items returned include the Edinburgh Tabot, Emperor Tewodros’ Great Seal, the Kebra Nagast (the Glory of Kings, the national epic), the Maggs Tabot, the handwritten Psalms of David and the Royal Cap.

• AFROMET is the Association for the Return of Magdala Ethiopian Treasure - an international organisation dedicated to retrieving priceless treasures looted during the British invasion of Ethiopia in 1867-8. AFROMET is campaigning for repatriation of all items taken including sacred tabots (altar slabs), manuscripts, crosses, crowns, chalices and Emperor Tewodros’ hair which is currently in the Chelsea Army Museum.

• AFROMET is currently lobbying the Trustees of Edinburgh University for the return of the Maqdala manuscripts which the organisation believes to be currently held in within the University’s Collection. 

• More information on AFROMET is available on their website: www.afromet.org

ENDS