Finland has returned two fragments of sacred historical artifacts that were taken away from Namibia during the colonial era.
The artifacts, which are sacred stones, were taken from the traditional kingdom of the Ovambo Kingdom, Ondonga. This place is now located in Northern Africa.
The stone fragments were handed over to Anna Nghipondoka, Namibia’s Education, Arts and Culture Minister by Jukka Salovaara, the Finnish Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, on Thursday. It was reported that the stones will be kept at the National Museum of Namibia until they are eventually returned to the Ondonga traditional community.
President Sauli Niinistö said that the “Ondonga Power Stone,” as it was called, is valuable, not just to the Ondonga community, but also seen as a part of the community’s identity and heritage.
The President of Namibia, Hage Geingob, said that the return of the stone should act as an example to all those who “stole things from Africa.”
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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