Ethiopia in the 1920’s

Professor Ramon Wyss, the grandson of Fritz Weiss, the German Ambassador to Ethiopia in the 1920s, inherited artefacts that his grandparents had been given and acquired during their time in Ethiopia. He and his niece Alice decided they would like to donate 12 artefacts that include three shields, two crowns, two paintings, a sword, a belt, a drinking vessel, atrumpetand a painting booklet to the Museum of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies of Addis Ababa University.

With the support of the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ethiopian Ambassador to the Nordic Countries and the German Embassy in Ethiopia these beautiful and historically significant artefacts have been donated and handed over to Dr. Yohannes Adigeh, the Director of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies at a ceremony on 19th November 2025 at Ras Makonnen Hall. 
 
Fritz and his wife Hedwig were keen photographers and a selection of 51 photos from their private collection and from among photos they donated to the State Library in Berlin have been included in an exhibition at the Goethe-Institut was opened on 20th November 2025.

The photos include a wide range of subjects including scenes in Addis Ababa, from the market, street life, polo and horse racing in Jan Meda, the festival of Maskal, and a visit of the Regent Ras Tafari, as well as photographs from the Weiss’ excursions to the countryside, including portraits of people and their activities. The catalogue of the exhibition also includes examples of letters from Empress Zewditu and Regent Ras Tafari and a medal certificate.