The government of Ethiopia has appreciated the “unilateral decision” passed by Trustees of the National Army Museum of the UK to return locks of hair belonging Emperor Tewodros II, Ethiopian Embassy to London said in a statement.
The Emperor, who preferred suicide to surrender to British force led by Field Marshal Robert Cornelius Napier at the battle of Maqdala in 1868, was latter got shaved off his hair and taken away by UK as war trophy.
The statement also said that the Embassy will discuss with the Museum this Thursday on the hair’s repatriation.
“This exemplary gesture of goodwill by the National Army Museum – coming as it does at the end of a year-long commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Maqdala – signifies the dawn of a new level of shared understanding in our complex history”, said the Embassy.
The Jubilation of Ethiopians is highly expected when the lock of hair arrived, which many consider the remains the invincible war hero, Emperor Tewodros II.
Ethiopia still claims that there many other treasures, which were taken after the war fought 150 years ago.