October 29, 2025 Two of Ethiopia’s most significant hominid fossils, Lucy and Selam, have returned to Addis Ababa after a two-month exhibition in Prague, Czech Republic.

Lucy, a 3.2-million-year-old Australopithecus afarensis discovered in 1974, and Selam, a 3.3-million-year-old juvenile of the same species found in 2000, are important for understanding early human evolution. The fossils were displayed in Prague to allow international audiences to see some of Ethiopia’s key contributions to paleoanthropology.

Their return to the National Museum of Ethiopia was marked by a formal reception attended by museum staff, researchers, and members of the public. The fossils will now resume their permanent display at the museum, where they are part of Ethiopia’s broader collection of archaeological and anthropological artifacts.

The exhibition in Prague provided a temporary opportunity for people outside Ethiopia to study and view these fossils, and their return ensures they remain accessible to local researchers, students, and visitors.

Visitors to the National Museum can now once again witness these remarkable hominids up close, as they resume their permanent display among Ethiopia’s unparalleled collection of archaeological and anthropological artifacts. The exhibition’s return not only strengthens national pride but also renews global fascination with the story of humanity’s earliest ancestors.

From Addis Ababa to Prague and back, Lucy and Selam’s journey highlights how science, history, and culture can travel across borders, inspiring awe and curiosity wherever they go. For Ethiopia, today is a celebration of both past and present—a homecoming centuries in the making.