A UK auction house cancelled the sale Thursday of a shield taken from Ethiopia by British soldiers in the 19th century, after pressure from the East African country’s government. The circular dome shield made from hide was removed from what was then called Abyssinia during the battle of Magdala in 1868. The spokeswoman did not specify whether the withdrawal was linked to any specific request from Ethiopian authorities, who have long demanded the return of looted items. In a statement, Ethiopia’s government welcomed the “wise decision” of the auction house and the owner of the shield to scrap the sale and “start negotiations for its repatriation”. Three silver cups and a shield pillaged after the battle were returned to the Ethiopian embassy in a ceremony in London last September.

Source: Ethiopian News February 29, 2024 15:39 UTC