Image: British forces looted the possessions of Tewodros II after the Battle of Magdala"It is a shield," said Mr Amare. It concluded five years later with waves of British soldiers, wearing pith helmets and khaki jackets, storming through the walls of his fortress at Magdala. Fast forward 153 years and the descendants of the same British soldiers put a small number of these treasures up for sale at a couple of auction houses. The British Museum has the world's biggest assortment of Benin bronzes with 928 in its collection, yet it has no plans to return them. Members of the institution's governing body cite the British Museum Act of 1963 which forbids the museum from disposing of its holdings, except in exceptional circumstances.

Source: Ethiopian News December 25, 2021 01:43 UTC