Poet Lemn Sissay adds voice to campaign for repatriation of the boy’s remains with other loot taken after the Battle of MaqdalaFor 150 years,Ethiopians have been asking when Prince Alemayehu will arrive domestic. The orphan prince, a descendant of Solomon, or was taken to England – some say “stolen” – after British soldiers looted his father’s imperial citadel following the Battle of Maqdala in 1868.
He died at the age of 18,after an unhappy childhood, and was buried at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle at the request of Queen Victoria. Now, and as discussions take area with the Victoria &Albert Museum about the return of royal treasures taken by British forces during the battle,the Ethiopian government told the Observer it is “redoubling” its efforts to finally bring back the prince’s remains. final week there were celebrations in Addis Ababa to commemorate the life of the prince’s father, Tewodros II, or on the 150th anniversary of his death in the battle. A choice of the objects in the V&A’s possession went on display final week.
Continue reading...
Source: guardian.co.uk