A high-stakes cultural dispute has erupted over the planned sale of an important 18th-century Ethiopian manuscript at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. The manuscript, known as the Magdala Gospel, is believed to date to the second half of the 18th century and contains the Gospel of Luke and most of the Gospel of John. It is written in Ge’ez, an ancient language used by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The manuscript is part of what may have originally been a two-volume set, with the first volume likely held by the Bavarian State Library, containing the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. The Magdala Gospel is richly illustrated with 235 scenes depicting the life, passion, and resurrection of Christ. These images include details that are of interest to historians, such as a depiction of Qing porcelain vases in a scene from the wedding at Cana. The manuscript’s most distinctive feature is its elaborate binding, made of openwork red leather lined with gold foil and velvet. This opulence suggests it was commissioned by a high-ranking patron, but no evidence supports the seller’s claim that it was an imperial commission. Instead, two uncolored figures—likely clergymen—appear in a scene of the Trinity, suggesting they may have been the intended donors. Their unfinished depiction may indicate that the patrons could not complete their purchase for unknown reasons, which explains why the manuscript remains incomplete. The Magdala Gospel was likely acquired by Ethiopian Emperor Tewodros II when he looted churches in Gondar in 1864 and 1866. In 1868, British forces captured Tewodros’s mountain fortress at Magdala, seizing numerous religious artifacts, including this manuscript. After Tewodros died by suicide, British troops looted the fortress, taking many items to Europe. Some of these artifacts were later returned to Ethiopia, while others remain in private and public collections across the continent. The manuscript’s provenance includes notes inserted by a previous owner, Rev. John Medows Rodwell, indicating that it was given by British commander Robert Napier to Governor William Robert Seymour Vesey-Fitzgerald during the military campaign. Vesey-Fitzgerald sold the manuscript in 1887, and it has since passed through various hands. Recently, the manuscript was listed for sale by the Austrian bookseller Antiquariat Inlibris with a guide price of €250,000, a significant amount for an Ethiopic manuscript. This sparked international interest, prompting the Ethiopian Heritage Authority to demand its withdrawal and repatriation. The controversy reflects a growing global movement to return African antiquities to their countries of origin. Ethiopia has recently reclaimed several looted items, including a lock of Emperor Tewodros’s hair from Britain in 2019. Meanwhile, a partnership between the Toledo Museum of Art and the Ethiopian Heritage Authority aims to bring 380 Ethiopian Christian artifacts into public collections. However, the political situation in Ethiopia remains volatile, with active conflicts and reports of armed groups seeking to overthrow the government. As the Magdala Gospel’s future remains uncertain, the push for the return of colonial-era African artifacts continues to gain momentum, challenging both dealers and institutions to address historical injustices.