This is not the first time Egypt has demanded the return of an artefact. Neither is it likely to be the last. Countries world over, including India, have been demanding that artefacts – several of which were looted during the colonial period – be brought back to their countries of origin.
Around 11 inches tall and carved from brown quartzite, when the 3,000-year-old bust of Egyptian god Amen – sculpted with features of the pharaoh Tutankhamun – was sold by Christie’s for £ 4.7 million on July 4, it turned several heads. The sale followed weeks of to and fro between activists and the Egyptian government and the auction house, to which they pleaded to cancel the sale of the relic. The government cited that it was probably stolen from an Egyptian temple during the ’70s. Christie’s, however, went ahead with the sale, issuing details of the provenance, tracing it back to the collection of German aristocrat Prinz Wilhelm von Thurn in the ’60s. It was bought from him by Vienna-based gallerist Josef Messina in 1973 or 1974, reads the detail of the lot. The auction house stated that the relic had never been the subject of an investigation and that it would not have been sold if there were legitimate concerns. The National Committee for Antiquities Repatriation (Egypt), on Monday, discussed the legal measures to be taken by the Egyptian authorities for the same.
This is not the first time Egypt has demanded the return of an artefact. Neither is it likely to be the last. Countries world over, including India, have been demanding that artefacts – several of which were looted during the colonial period – be brought back to their countries of origin. Requests for repatriation have been pouring in from across the world, including Nigeria, Greece, Thailand, Benin and Ethiopia. India’s request for the return of the Koh-i-Noor diamond and the Sultanganj Buddha have been repeatedly rejected by Britain. The country often cites the British Museum Act 1963 which forbids the British Museum from disposing off its holdings.The sale of several articles of historical significance at auctions, however, makes matters more complex. For one, the articles are not owned by public institutions nor are they usually meant for public display. The repatriation negotiations would be vastly different when dealing with private collectors. Moreover, there is also a distinction between when the article was taken out of the country while it was under foreign rule and those smuggled out otherwise.
While in 2018 an auction house in the United Kingdom sold a bronze relic suspected to have been taken from Beijing’s Old Summer Palace in 1860, despite calls from China to withdraw its sale, in 2004, Vijay Mallya famously bought the sword of Mysore King Tipu Sultan at an auction for Rs 1.5 crore. The whereabouts of the sword though aren’t known.
More recently, in March, despite several concerns raised, Berkshire-based Antony Cribb Ltd auctioneers, who specialise in arms and armory related sales, auctioned items from Tipu Sultan’s armory worth £107,000. The highlight was a silver-mounted 20-bore flintlock gun and bayonet that came under the hammer for £60,000. The lot description read: “Unlike other Tipu Sultan guns this one exhibits clear signs of having been badly damaged in its past… rather than being taken directly from the rack after the fall of Seringapatam it appears to have been collected from the battlefield.”
The Indian High Commission in London had been reportedly made aware of the sale by India Pride Project, a group of volunteers “that tracks and brings back India’s stolen heritage”. It was instrumental in the repatriation of a 12th century Buddha statue allegedly stolen from Nalanda in Bihar nearly 60 years last year, and the 11th century Chola statue of a dancing Shiva that was brought back to India from Australia in 2014. “Indian art is in various museums and we have to study their documents and provenances carefully. It is the same for auctions,” stated Anuraag Saxena, co-founder of India Pride Project, in an earlier interview to The Indian Express. He added, “Our history is being illegally smuggled out to private collectors and museums across the world and we want to bring this look back.
(The Indian Express)
The sale of King Tutankhamun’s 3,000-year-old statue restarts debate on whether ancient artefacts belong to their country of origin
Once up on a time…
Adapted from an old local public story
(Last part)
Last week we left off with the first part while Almaz’s husband, Simegnew, was ringing the gate bell. Then Almaz would walk over to the gate to answer the knock. Meanwhile Arabu (Ali) was grinding shiro in the inner kitchen… Here follows the second and last part…
By Haile-Gebriel Endeshaw
“Why is all this delay, lady?… Should the big man wait for hours like a stranger till somebody comes to open his own gate?…” Simegnew looked with weary eyes at his wife who left the wicket ajar. He was carrying long whip hanging on his broad shoulder.
“My dear, I am sorry for being late to answer to your knocking… I was in the inner kitchen cooking and making injera. You know how busy your lady is! … Did you have a good time out in the farm?” She opened the wicket wider for him.
“Everything is fine except the weariness of your man.” He released long breath and walked into the compound with his muddy boots.
At home he took a seat on a big and dwarf stool. Almaz gave him a jug full of water which he scooped and rubbed his rough hands with. Then she served him injera with red sauce of lentil. There is also cheese and yoghurt placed on the injera that was spread over the tray. Simegnew was so hungry that he ate his fill and drank a tin full of tella (local beer). When he was about to leave for his farm, Almaz said that coffee was ready, and he should drink the abol (the first cup) …
Simegnew walked out, put on his boots and seated himself under the veranda at a medeb (cow dung smeared seat made of earth). Almaz placed before him a small coffee table, which contains clean cups, fresh mint and smoking incense… There is also a coffee pot with mouther tilted down near the coffee table. While sipping at the black coffee, Simegnew heard the sound of the stone mill far inside the kitchen. Shurrrrr… shurrrr… shurrrrr…. “Who is there inside grinding?” he inquired.
“I have a hired lady labourer giving me a hand in grinding the shiro. I am too tired to do it all by myself. I told you I should have one such maid,” Almaz replied.
Simegnew did not comment anything. After having his second cup of coffee, he grabbed his whip (he uses to lash the team of oxen with) and left for the farmland. The moment the big gate closed behind him, Ali who was grinding the shiro gushed out a sigh of relief. He took no time before he threw away the dirt netela he shrouded his neck and hands with and walked out of the compound. Almaz bade him farewell with her pretty face gleaming with smile.
The other day when Almaz was at Arabu’s shop to do her shopping, Ali took hold of her slim and soft hand as usual and kissed it. “Almu, konjo! Do you know how Ali loves you? …Don’t you understand that?” He caressed her smooth long hair. Almaz smiled with a look of tacit agreement.
“Almu, please smile. Let me see your milk white teeth… Almu, konjo…” He tried to hug and kiss her on her lips. But she resisted. “I want you to stop that nonsense, Ali! … People are watching what you are doing here! …”
“I can’t, Almu. I am in love with you. … I will come today… wait for me at home, please! This time I will have to come earlier… eshi (ok)? … Please, I am in love with you, Almu!”
“No, if you want to come, I want you to do it after 11:00 AM. I have many things to accomplish at home. I don’t think my man will come home today.”
…Hours later, while the two were having coffee and snack at home, the gate bell tolled. Ali sprang up and ran in to the inner room. He shrouded himself with netela and started grinding the shiro… This time, after having his lunch and coffee, Simegnew stayed at home for a long time. This was unusual. Most of the time he would leave after he was served his lunch and coffee. Then a couple of hours later, he grabbed his gun from the wall it was hanging on. He pulled the trigger which produced a simple click sound. He was whistling while fondling and wiping the gun. His wife was very alarmed. She crossed herself and stared at him… “What are you going to do with that Satan thing, my dear?”
“Nothing… I have a plan to go somewhere for a long trip. I just want to check this friend of mine that will accompany me during such time. Sometimes the gun needs dismantling and oiling… otherwise, it gets stuck…” Long whistle… Then, he bounced up to his feet… squinted his left eye…put his index finger against the trigger and took aim at the vacant air… Then he placed the gun back to its usual place.
Ali was listening to their chat. He stopped crushing the shiro when he heard the click sound of the gun. He was alarmed. His heart almost stopped beating. He has already started shivering. His entire body streamed with sweat. Then, when he lost their voice, he started grinding the shiro. This time the ground shiro was piling up. Poor Ali was so tired that he could hardly grip the small stone and push it against the big mother stone beneath… Now he was hearing stifling voices of the couple. “You know how much I love you, honey…” It was Simegnew… “Yes, I know my dear. I love you too. I have no one but you!” Almaz’s soft and weak sound came next. Then, long silence mingling with interval breaths … Ali was very sad. He said his prayer to Alah… pleading to snatch him out of that cottage…
The other day when Almaz was at the arb bet, Ali seemed quite different. He was cool and gentle. This time he did not come out of the balcony to touch her hand as usual. He was solely looking at her with blurring sight. He was dumbfounded. Almaz was confused.
“Ali?” she called staring at him with her bulging out eyeballs.
He looked at her silently. His mouth was closed like a sealed box.
“What happened, Ali? Are you sick? …Come on, give me your hand. Let me see your face…” She stretched her hand out for him.
Ali remained silent. Almaz walked closer and touched him by his shoulder. “No!” he jumped and screamed. It seemed he was touched on the sore part of his body…
“What’s wrong, Ali? … Are you sick? Tell me, please. Why are you so dumb? Say something, please! … I need you to come home. I shall wait for you at home… My husband will be away till tomorrow. We have a free full day… Can you hear me?” she shouted.
At last Ali cleared his voice and said, “… Do you really want me to come home again?… Do you think I am that much fool. I want you to know that I am not the other Mamo qillo. I think you must have much shiro that has not yet been crushed… Have you not yet finished that shiro to be ground? Do you need Ali to come for the third time and crush it for you?! … look at this!” he stretched out his palms that were spotted with blisters. “Go and search for another fool! …Dear Almaz, this poor Ali wants to live longer. Please, leave his shop now. Go back to your man…”
Address your comment to the writer through gizaw.haile@yahoo.com
Amanuel wins crown, Addis, Mujib close behind
Ethiopian Premier League champion Mekele Seba-Enderta’s striker Amanuel G/Kidan was crowned top scorer of 2019 season. Sidama Coffee’s one man strike force Addis Gedey and Adama’s Mujib Kasim finished second and third respectively.
Though the 18 goals was the lowest tally in the last five seasons, considering the chaotic situation all through the season, it is a big achievement for the Gondor born striker who spearheaded his side Mekele to its first ever championship title.
Many admired Amanuel not only about finishing top scorer. But his consistency all through the season and his disciplinary records are said up to high standards therefore likely to take double crown as Best Player of The Year. Amanuel scored in the season final match against Sehul from a spot kick thus won the accolade in a single goal difference.
Young goal machine Addis Gedey is considered the jewel of the seasons most surprise package Sidama Bunna. Had it not been for the stunning 4-1 defeat at the hands of Mekelakya here in Addis Ababa, Sidama could have won the league title swiftly. But short of experience for both the players and the coach they finished second and yet introducing one of the deadly finishers this season Addis Gedey with 17 goals in his name.
Joining the ranks late in the season, Fasil Town target man Mujib Kasim was never heard before the season’s second round. But once in the chase, Mujib stayed consistent driving Fasil almost to the title. Though disappointed in losing the title on the very final day finishing third with 16 goals gives some consolation.
Super League Ethio-Electric advocates for a new league format
Super League side Ethio-Electric joined hands with heavy weights Saint George and Ethiopia Coffee to demand a formal change of format for the coming new season. “Unless the federation gives a response to our letter concerning our grievances, we may be obliged to look for other options that may undermine the federation’s position as the country’s football governing body” Electric board chair person Mr. Essayas Dender told Nahoo TV Sport show.
Though some are implying that Electric is using the excuse to return to the upper league in a short cut, Mr. Essayas explained in detail not only about the problem his club faced in the Super League but also about the major issue of finance and facilities that are the short comings of almost all clubs. “It is even a big loss for the government for its hundreds of millions Birr annual budget is spent for no good reason,” Essays remarked.
According to Essayas a club spends millions in organizing away matches and a new format will surely help the sport by far better than the current one that is more about spending a huge sum for logistics. “Electric spends not less than 300 thousand birr for a single away match,” Mr. Essayas disclosed.
“Well others that are short of finances are obliged to travel more than 500 Kilometers for away matches. This is harsh for the players with a consequence of losing matches. Above all it is forbidden in FIFA regulation to travel by bus more than 200 kilometers, Mr. Essayas underlined.
In fifty plus years in Ethiopian Football, the two time Ethiopian champion Ethio-Electric contributed lots to the sport including number of renowned footballers for Ethiopian national team as well admired for being fountain of young talents.
