The Aksum Obelisk which was recently re-erected in its original spot has experienced a decade long and torturous path to finally return from its Roman exile. Prof. Pankhurst enlightens us with some fascinating details on this epic achievement in national heritage restitution…
Archive for the ‘Aksum obelisk’ Category
Thoughts on the re-erection of the Aksum obelisk
Posted in Aksum obelisk, Italy, Restitution on September 22, 2008| Leave a Comment »
The Aksum obelisk and the people of Kenya
Posted in Aksum obelisk, Italy, Restitution on August 25, 2008| Leave a Comment »
The return and re-erection of the looted Aksum Obelisk marks a milestone of great significance not only for Ethiopian history, but also as an inspiration for increased momentum across Africa for the restitution of looted heritage items. This week’s ‘Corner reflects on how the return of the Aksum Obelisk is galvanizing African nations, including Nigeria and Kenya…
Ethiopian loot discussed
Posted in Aksum obelisk, Italy, Restitution, The Maqdala loot on August 11, 2008| Leave a Comment »
Now that Italy has returned the looted Aksum Obleisk, there is added pressure on especially the authorities of the British Library and the British Museum to repatriate a large trove of manuscripts, artifacts and up to a dozen ‘tabots’, replicas of the Ark of the Covenant- sacred to Ethiopians. This week’s Corner, sheds more light on the issue, as well as providing a fascinating yet rather sad portrayal of certain glorification of war crimes and war criminals of the Fascist era in Italy …
Personal memories of the Aksum obelisk issue (Part 3)
Posted in Aksum obelisk, Italy, Restitution on July 28, 2008| Leave a Comment »
This week’s corner concludes Professor Pankhurst’s three part series on the events, personalities and collective effort behind the successful repatriation of the Obelisk from Italy. The Ethiopisant scholar however, ends this article in tantalizing manner…
Personal memories of the Aksum obelisk issue (Part 2)
Posted in Aksum obelisk, Italy, Restitution on July 16, 2008| Leave a Comment »
The historian continues the series relating to the events surrounding the return from Rome of the Aksum Obelisk, looted and transported in 1937. In this edition, Professor Pankhurst reveals an as yet untold display of staunch solidarity with Ethiopia’s right of restitution by Chief Segun Ulusola, the then Ambassador to Ethiopia of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as the esteemed emissaries of Zimbabwe, Egypt and others, including prominent Ethiopians and the crowd at Addis Ababa Stadium…
Personal recollections of the Aksum obelisk issue: Early days
Posted in Aksum obelisk, Italy, Restitution on June 30, 2008| Leave a Comment »
This first in a series of articles about what must be rated as one of Ethiopia’s most successful, wholly unofficial and private initiative led grouping – the Aksum Obelisk Return Committee is timely…. Even as we speak, the returned obelisk is being re-mounted on the same spot it had stood on for centuries before it was carted away to a forced exile…..
Richard Pankhurst 