The recent announcement that a British museum will return two stolen locks of hair from a 19th century Ethiopian king was hailed as an “exemplary gesture of goodwill” by the Ethiopian Embassy in London. The hair was cut from Emperor Tewodros II’s head after he shot himself rather than be taken prisoner by invading British forces. The British forces went on a looting spree, taking so much bounty after the Battle of Maqdala that they needed 15 elephants and 200 mules to cart it away. Ethiopia is a storytelling nation in which the past is of crucial importance. He is viewed as a true leader who authored his immortality by refusing to surrender to British forces and taking his own life instead.

Source: Ethiopian News March 18, 2019 21:00 UTC