Culture

After 140-year battle, UK returns Ethiopian Prince Alemayehu’s lock of hair

Published

1 year ago

September 22, 2023

After a legal tussle that lasted 140 years for the return of a lock of hair from a young Ethiopian prince, Alemayehu, who was in captivity in Britain, the UK government has finally handed over the hair to representatives from his home country.

According to history, Prince Alemayehu was taken away by British soldiers in 1868 after invading the fortress of his father, Emperor Tewodros II, who then killed himself.

The prince was taken to London aged just seven, where his status as an orphan elicited the sympathy of Queen Victoria who agreed to support him financially and put him under the guardianship of Captain Tristram Charles Sawyer Speedy, the man who had accompanied the prince from Ethiopia.

But barely 10 years later, the Crown Prince died at the age of 18 in 1879 after an unhappy upbringing in Britain and was buried at Windsor Castle near London.

Requests to have his body returned to his home country for a proper burial were repeatedly turned down, a situation which led to the long battle.

In rejecting the requests, Buckingham Palace reasoned that exhuming the prince’s remains would disturb the remains of others buried in the catacombs of St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.

However, on Thursday, the issue was settled after the UK government handed over the lock of hair to Ethiopia’s Ambassador to the UK, Teferi Melesse, at a ceremony held in London.

While taking possession of the lock of hair which came with a number of other artefacts that had been looted from Emperor Tewodros’s Maqdala fortress, Melesse welcomed their return, saying that they will go back to their rightful place where they can continue to inspire and educate generations to come.

Melesse however, said Ethiopia would continue to press the UK to return more items seized from the fortress.

One of the prince’s descendants, Fasil Minas, also expressed hope that the handing over of the prince’s hair could pave the way for his body to go back to Ethiopia.

The handing over of the hair was facilitated by the Scheherazade Foundation, which had originally been in the possession of Captain Speedy.

Leonie Turner, a descendant of Speedy who handed over the hair in London, told journalists that she had discovered the artefact among her family heirlooms.

“I felt Prince Alemayehu’s hair was a long way from home,” she said quoted.

A member of Ethiopia’s Heritages Restitution National Committee, Alula Pankhurst said he welcomed the return of the hair but said this should just be the start.

“The restitution of Ethiopian artefacts looted by the1868 British expedition to Magdala is important for restorative justice and an excellent way to build better relations and collaborations between British and Ethiopian institutions,” he said.

Related Topics:Ethiopia Featured Hair history Prince Alemayehu UK

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Culture

Ugandan TikToker sentenced to 32 months for insulting President Museveni

Published

18 hours ago

November 19, 2024

Isaac Dachen

21-year-old Ugandan TikToker and content creator, Emmanuel Nabugodi, has been sentenced to 32 months in prison for allegedly insulting President Yoweri Museveni in a satirical video.

Nabugodi was found guilty by an Entebbe High Court for allegedly creating a video deemed insulting to President Museveni, a verdict which human rights advocates say further entrenches Uganda’s intolerance for criticism of government officials and holding them accountable.

During his arraignment before Chief Magistrate Stellah Maris Amabilis on Monday, Nabugodi pleaded guilty to four charges of defamation of character.

The content creator who gained popularity for his comedy sketches with over 20,000 followers, pleaded guilty to charges including hate speech and spreading malicious content about the president.

Local media report that the offensive video featured a mock trial of President Museveni, where Nabugodi depicted the leader being subjected to public flogging.

While delivering the judgement, Chief Magistrate Amabilis said the sentencing aimed to deter social media users from targeting others, including high-profile individuals like the president.

“This court hopes that by the time the convict leaves prison, he will have learned that abusing people in the name of creating content is unacceptable,” she stated.

Rights groups have frequently raised concerns about shrinking freedoms of expression in Uganda with critics arguing that Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, has little tolerance for dissent.

Nabugodi’s case is the latest in a string of arrests targeting social media users.

In July, another TikTok creator, Edward Awebwa, received a six-year prison sentence on similar charges, while three others are awaiting trial for their TikTok contents.

The convictions stem from Uganda’s 2022 amendment to the Computer Misuse Act, which criminalizes sharing content online that could “ridicule, degrade, or demean” others based on their identity or affiliation.

Human rights organizations have also accused Ugandan authorities of routinely violating freedoms of speech and expression, with many calling for reforms to protect citizens’ digital rights.

Culture

Davido to donate N300m to orphanages to mark 32nd birthday

Published

2 days ago

November 18, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Nigerian Afro-Pop superstar, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has announced plans to donate the sum of N300 million to different orphanages across the country and anti-drug advocacy initiatives to mark his 32nd birthday later this year.

The Grammy-nominated singer who revealed the plan in a post he shared on his official X handle (formerly Twitter) on Monday, said he would donate the whopping sum to orphanages and charities that help young people to avoid drug addiction.

The “Unavailable” crooner added that the donation is intention to support vulnerable children at the orphanage and combat drug abuse among youths, and the funds will be split between orphanages and organizations working to prevent drug addiction.

He also assured his fans that details of the donation, including beneficiary organizations and distribution plans, will be made public soon.

“Once again on my birthday this year, we donating to orphanages and a charity that helps young people stay away from drug abuse & addiction. This year is N300m. Details to follow soon,” the multiple award-winning singer wrote.