A ceremonial crown looted by British soldiers more than 150 years ago was returned to Ethiopia in 2021 (Amanuel Sileshi)Westminster Abbey, one of Britain's most important churches, has "decided in principle" to return a sacred tablet to Ethiopia, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday. The Ethiopian artefact is one of a number taken by British soldiers at the battle of Magdala in 1868. The tabot is currently sealed inside an altar at Westminster Abbey. The governing body of Westminster Abbey had "decided in principle that it would be appropriate to return the Ethiopian tabot to the Ethiopian Church", a spokeswoman said. The abbey's decision will put pressure on the British Museum to reconsider its position on the 11 tabots which it holds, according to a report in The Art Newspaper industry journal.

Source: Ethiopian News February 21, 2024 13:32 UTC