“Truly rare fossils Lucy and Selam” highlight Ethiopia as the cradle of humankind, Czech PM says

Addis Ababa, August 25, 2025 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s iconic hominid fossils, Lucy (Dinknesh) and Selam, are now on display in Europe for the first time, offering historians, researchers, and the public a rare opportunity to explore the origins of humanity, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said.

“Truly rare artifacts have arrived in Prague,” PM Fiala remarked. “For the first time in Europe, the original fossils of Lucy, the famous human ancestor more than 3.2 million years old, are on display, along with Selam, the skeleton of a child of the same species, another hundred thousand years older. Both are among the greatest treasures of world archaeology, and now we can see them directly at the National Museum.”

The exhibition, titled “Human Origins and Fossils,” is being held at the Historical Building of the National Museum of the Czech Republic in Prague from August 25 to October 23, 2025. It provides international audiences with a firsthand view of fossils that have firmly established Ethiopia as the cradle of humankind**.

Ethiopia’s Minister of Tourism, Selamawit Kassa, told FMC that the exhibition is a priceless opportunity for scholars and visitors to engage with the nation’s rich prehistoric heritage. She noted that the exhibition also strengthens scientific and cultural ties between Ethiopia and the Czech Republic.

In conjunction with the exhibition, Ethiopia and the Czech Republic signed an agreement to establish a children’s museum in Addis Ababa. Minister Selamawit signed the agreement with officials from the Czech National Museum** and the Czech Development Agency.

The Czech government will provide financial support to build the museum in Friendship Park II, Addis Ababa, where it will introduce children to Ethiopia’s history and culture in an accessible and engaging way.

Minister Selamawit expressed her gratitude to the Czech government, emphasizing that the museum will allow future generations to learn about Ethiopia’s rich cultural and historical heritage while reinforcing the nation’s global image as the birthplace of humanity.