The defeat of the Italians on March 1, 1896 at the Battle of Adwa had a double prong effect.
To begin with, an army mostly composed of young peasants who conquered a European army that was armed to the teeth was telling the European powers that they are not invincible. On the other hand, it heralded the possibility of frustrating the colonial ambitions of Europe and became a source of inspiration for pan Africanism and the struggle for freedom and democracy in the Americas.
Emperor Menelik II effectively combined diplomacy, warfare and public relations in a preliminary preparation for the inevitable battle.
The emperor defeated the conspiracy in the Treaty of Uchalle with the support from Empress Taitu who joined the 25,000 women who participated in the battle with a multiple of roles.
Menelik himself did not show off in preparation for the battle. He was honest, humble, modest but deeply determined and courageous as his historic statement proclaiming the start up of the war tells a lot:
God has so far helped me to prevail through by eliminating my enemies and expanding the territory of the country. I have therefore been able to rule by the grace of God. Even if I have to die, I will not worry because all of us are destined to die when our time comes. So far God has not forsaken me and I wouldn’t think otherwise in the future.
And now an enemy that wishes to destroy the country and change its religion is encroaching into our God given territorial sea. Considering the massive loss of livestock that my peoples had to sustain and their physical weakness, I chose to keep silent but the enemy trespassed our territory and started to dig into our ground like a mole.
With the help of God I will not give away my country. My country men, I hope that I have so far not offended you and you have not offended me either. Those of you, who are able, support me with your strength. Those of you, who lack strength, join me in my agony for the sake of your wives, children and your religion. (Bilaten Geta Hiruy, Tarika Zemen Ze Dagmawi Menelik, page 225).
The response to the call of the emperor was so swift and the peasant army which was ill equipped and spontaneously organized was not in the real sense of the definition of the army of these days. The majority of the peasant militia, according to Italian historians were bare footed and had no firearms in the strict sense of the word.
It is also very interesting to note the composition of Emperor Menelik II peasant army. It included artisans and blacksmiths, tent makers and menders, women who were experts in preparing tejj (local mead made from pure water and honey), injerra and tella (locally home brewed beer, the wogesha (traditional bone setters for the wounded and whose bones are dislocated).
Makers of traditional outfits for war tested horses, weavers, blacksmiths, and musicians with traditional instruments, priests, traditional medicine vendors and peoples from all nationalities in the country and from traditional professions all accompanied those fighters equipped with traditional armaments including shields made of animal skins and spears.
These peoples honored the call from the emperor himself who was a good fighter and commander of his army not so much because it was a royal order but because they thought they got a grand chance to defend their country against foreign invaders.
All the nations, nationalities and peoples of this country were represented at all levels of ranks from generals up to ordinary servicemen and women.
The gender sensitivity of the army was quite telling by the fact that Empress Taitu herself commanded one of the divisions fighting the Italians at the forefront.
Unity was the main ideology that bound the peoples of Ethiopia on their heroic resistance against colonial forces. It was because of their unswerving unity that the peoples of Ethiopia were able to defeat the enemy and not so much because of their military superiority. Despite their differences in so many ways, they fought in unison.
The participants of the Battle of Adwa were not specifically selected from few nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia. In fact there was no level of selection to speak of. The peoples of Ethiopia voluntary fought in the battle by using their own primitive battle kits, fed themselves and in bare foot.
The historic success at the Battle of Adwa was brought by the entire peoples of Ethiopia. Despite the repression and oppression that the broad masses had to sustain under the pre-feudal and feudal system they fought for the survival of this country with no strings attached.
No rewards or medals. Not even a word of thanks. Guided by their own conscience and inborn valor the peoples of Ethiopia never cared about their specific identities or squabbled about local territorial demarcations. They fought for the sovereignty of the whole country where ethnic affiliations had no place.
The Ethiopian Herald March 3/2020
BY SOLOMON DIBABA
