The decision follows recent demands for stolen Ethiopian treasures to be returned to the country.
Sky News | Locks of hair belonging to an Ethiopian emperor who killed himself after a British invasion will be returned by a London museum.
The National Army Museum agreed to repatriate the hair of Emperor Tewodros II following a request from Ethiopia’s government. It comes after recent demands for the UK to return a number of artefacts, including a gold crown seized at the siege of Magdala.
Emperor Tewodros II chose to die rather than be taken prisoner by the British during their 1868 invasion and his fortress was captured and looted, with many of the treasures taken back to Britain.
The emperor’s son, Prince Alemayehu, was also taken to London and died there aged 18. There was outcry last year over an exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum which included artefacts from the 1868 invasion. Ethiopians were appalled and the government called for the return of the items.
