The question now is whether the Kwer’ata Re’esu should be bought from its private Portuguese owner and returned. His heir sold the Kwer’ata Re’esu and in 1950 it ended up being acquired by the Portuguese art historian Luís Reis Santos. The Art Newspaper report on the astonishing story of the Kwer’ata Re’esu in 1998 led to behind-the-scenes action by Portuguese officials. She believes that the Kwer’ata Re’esu was in effect “kidnapped during a violent punitive raid” by the British—and it should be returned. The Kwer’ata Re’esu continues to be in limbo, out of sight, while Ethiopians are calling for its restitution.

Source: Ethiopian News February 05, 2024 11:58 UTC