The starting of diplomatic ties between Ethiopia and Portugal is traced back to the reign of King Libne Dengel in the 16th century. The sending of Ethiopian Ambassador to Portugal in 1926 is the marks the beginning of modern diplomatic relation. The relation has lasted about 500 years. Perhaps, Portugal is among the few long lasting partner of Ethiopia.
The historic diplomatic relation between the two countries started five centuries back, when envoys were sent with concrete purposes of alliance, and finally with the arrival of a first Embassy dispatched from India in 1520. This Embassy stood in the Ethiopian highlands for six years, laying the foundational stone of a long term diplomatic relationship, yet not exempt of ambiguities and misunderstandings.
In the beginning, Portugal envisioned Ethiopia as a strategic ally in the Portuguese expansionist quest for the domination of the navigation and trade in the Indian Ocean. Ethiopian rulers responded positively, and promptly requested technical support in different fields.
In 1526, an Ethiopian Ambassador named Tsaga za-Ab was sent to Portugal by King Libne Dengel. The Ambassador met a Portuguese humanist, Damião de Góis. Góis was impressed by his information about Ethiopian Christianity, and eventually published, in Latin, a booklet containing the precious information provided by Tsaga za-Ab. The publishing of this booklet, translated with informed notes for Ethiopian readership, is in pipeline of the program of the 500 Years.
In the context of the celebration of the 5 hundredth Anniversary of the Diplomatic Relations between Portugal and Ethiopia (1520-2020), the Embassy of Portugal and the Unit of Portuguese Language and Lusophone Studies at Addis Ababa University had set up a documental exhibition at the Addis Ababa Museum. The exhibition had been open to the general public from November 5 to December 1.
The Embassy of Portugal has announced a program was designed to commemorate the fifth centenary of Ethio-Portuguese relations. It is expected to officially open with a reception and show on December, 8, at Addis Ababa National Theatre. The exhibition project was part of a seminar and a course of the Modern European Languages B.A. degree at Addis Ababa University, in the last Academic Year, showing, therefore, also the Portuguese cooperation for higher education in Ethiopia, learnt from the exhibition.
Isabel Boavida (PhD), Cultural Affair Expert at the Embassy of Portugal, told The Ethiopian Herald that the exhibition From Portugal to Ethiopia entitled ‘the historical villages of Portugal’ which is a branded network promoting heritage, indigenous resources, vernacular knowledge, and locally based entrepreneurship for sustainable development in the Portuguese central-northern hinterland. It gathers twelve villages and ten municipalities, local partners and, above all, the potential beneficiaries of the local population for an innovative and sustainable territory in which each village is perceived as a dynamic socioeconomic ecosystem, she said.
Isabel explained uncovered that the network supports local micro and small businesses and projects for job creation and promotes a strategy of inclusive tourism, offering the visitor a wide scope of experiences, from the more radical sports to the palate pleasures of traditional gastronomy or the new flavors created by revaluing local products, resources and practices.
She said the exhibition showcases both natural and cultural environment of a borderland region, strategically attempting to reinvent itself from the past historical ruins, and hardships of rural life through innovation, creativity, social inclusiveness, cultural identity, ecology, in a human scale.
As to her the exhibition aims at bringing example of good practices on how to explore opportunities in territories that are out of the beaten track to the people of Ethiopia. It displays photograph, and objects showcasing traditional arts and crafts, together with new products that are the result of the chain of value created by the network, as well as promotional materials of the historical villages.
She also mentioned that Ethiopia is a country rich in historical and cultural wealth. Thus, the country can go far in the tourism sector if utilized properly. Portugal is interested in working with Ethiopia in the sector, as to her.
Portuguese Ambassador to Ethiopia, Antonio Luiz Cotrim, on his apart, mentioned that Portugal wants to work with Ethiopia. They want to invest in Ethiopia. He also reminded the tourism potential Ethiopia has and the interest of Portugal to invest in the sector.
“Lately, we have been receiving different interest from Portuguese companies who want to invest in Ethiopia in differing sectors. I believe this would be reinforced in coming years and this exhibition would create a platform for Portuguese investors,” the Ambassador said.
The Ethiopian Herald November16, 2019
BY GETAHUN LEGESSE
