The Book Liberator
A New Chapter at the V&A
The Victoria & Albert Museum, founded in 1852 and situated in London, is the world's largest repository of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects. Some of the items taken at Maqdala in 1868 found their way into the V&A collection by various routes.
In 2018, the V&A displayed these items as part of the 150th commemoration of the Maqdala raid. The initiators and designers of the display wished to contextualise the items in terms of the legacies of British empire and the prospect of reparation for past wrongs. Speeches given at the opening of the new exhibition brought to life the issue of reparation. A new diplomatic chapter now seems to be opening on the Maqdala saga.
In 2018, the V&A displayed these items as part of the 150th commemoration of the Maqdala raid. The initiators and designers of the display wished to contextualise the items in terms of the legacies of British empire and the prospect of reparation for past wrongs. Speeches given at the opening of the new exhibition brought to life the issue of reparation. A new diplomatic chapter now seems to be opening on the Maqdala saga.
Here is Lemn Sissay (MBE), an award-winning poet, discussing Maqdala and Prince Alemayehu through his familial relationship to Ethiopia:
And here is His Excellency Dr Hailemichael Aberra Afework, Ethiopian Ambassador to the UK, discussing the return of items: