I s there any relationship between the Battle of Adwa, which took place more than one hundred years ago, and the current reforms in Ethiopia? At face values, there is none at all but a careful thinker can successfully establish a linkage between the two events that took place in two specific historical settings. Located at a highly strategic geopolitical setting, Ethiopia was at a cross road to the main route to the scramble for Africa. It therefore stands to reason that foreign powers have continued to encroach into the territorial boundaries of the country.
Ethiopia did not enjoy peace they badly needed and the peoples of this country suffered from lack of peace and had to fight for the survival of this country. Ethiopia agreed in good faith to sign The Treaty of Uchalle in line with the commitment of the leaders of the country to sustained peace and mutual security. In modern Ethiopia, the principle of peaceful coexistence and mutual cooperation for common good conspicuously stand out.
The antagonistic relations and the animosity with the neighboring countries turned into a mutually beneficial cooperation to ascertain peace and development. The Battle of Adwa is a battle primarily fought by the united youth of this country. In fact historians estimated that the youth constituted more than 30% percent of the peasant army that thwarted a modern colonial army armed to the teeth. When it comes to the ongoing reform in Ethiopia, the youth in the army, police and security forces are doing their best to safeguard the unity and territorial integrity of this country. Regrettably enough, a considerable section of the youth are still being used by those political forces for their own ideological and political interests.
Suffice it to recall that in several parts of the country, normal academic atmosphere have been disrupted and universities were unable to conduct their normal academic and research activities while private and public banks were looted by self styled vigilantes who are out to derail the country from the promising path of reforms. Unnity 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. In the event of the current reform, the same logic holds.
The history of this country shows that Ethiopia was at its weakest historical stage when the peoples of the country were divided. 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 current reform demands unity of purpose to ensure the unity and development of this country. The whole tenet of the reform program hinges around a profound battle against utter poverty and destitution.
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 demarcation. Do the peoples of Ethiopia uphold the same view today in the reform? I doubt.
During the Battle of Adwa, skillful leadership mattered. Emperor Menelik II was ready to effectively reconcile with local vassals who were apparently lured to take sides with the invading enemy. The top national priority was not the minor contradictions between the Emperor and opposing war lords. The irreversible national priority was indeed the defense of the motherland. Today, in the era of reforms, reconciliation and peace the same priority holds for the battle against corruption, bad governance and distorted understanding of ethnic exclusiveness.
In The Battle of Adwa, nobody fought for the sake of his own or her own ethnic group, personal or ethic fame. All were Ethiopian citizens who fought under the banner of peace, independence, unity and freedom. Nobody care about differences in language or ethnic culture. Although this was very important for self assertiveness, at the Battle of Adwa, it did not really matter.
Today, it would be foolish to deny the existence of multiple types differences between the peoples of Ethiopia. However, these differences are expected, natural and of course manageable. Citizens of this country were not expected to die in a savage manner simply because they do not support this or that ideas or because of the politics of US and THEM.
The destruction perpetrated on public and private property during the reform period can never be attributed to any type of “national liberation” or self determination. It is simply a typical manifestation of modern vandalism that is contrary to the heroic feat registered by our forefathers at the Battle of Adwa.
Ethiopians have fought more than 27 battles against aggressors over the last century in defense of their territorial integrity and unity but the valor exhibited at The Battle of Adwa is quite different. Different in the sense that it was not only battle between untrained and barefooted peasants foot soldiers with shoddy military outfits but it was also a representative regional battle against colonial ambitions on Africa.
Some may think that The Adwa is simply a famous war fought by Ethiopians. Adwa is also a battle in which the future of global, regional and national consciousness was shaped. Indeed, this battle represents a national self consciousness of all Ethiopian citizens whether they are in the Diaspora or here. Unfortunately, very little has been written on The Battle of Adwa. Thanks to the efforts of a number of European scholars and journalists we have some sketchy resources to refer to. Scholars line the Late Professor Richard Pankhurst, Angelo Del Boca, Mordachai Abir, Professor Kotch, Professor S. Ruebenson and others have left some very good records for us to read.
Incidentally, Honorable Tekele Tsadick Mekuria, Professor Bahiru Zewde have done a lot of research on the history of this country but it is difficult to conclude that the events surrounding the Battle of Adwa are adequately recorded. At this point in history, who is recording the gains and challenges that are being registered by the national reform program? As ministries and offices continue to change in this country, I cannot suggest a specific government office.
The truth however is, we are not doing enough to record our current national development and reform activities let alone the past history of this country.
This generation is in the disastrous danger of remaining ignorant of the past , not being properly aware of today and remaining in a state of limbo about tomorrow. Empress Taitu was one of the commanders of the Ethiopian army during the Battle of Adwa and our halves of the Ethiopian human body are steadily progressing in the reform process.
Tomorrow starts today and the elements of the Battle of Adwa are relevant even today in the struggle for peace development, forgiveness and love and meaningful and amicable unity.
The Ethiopian Herald March 1, 2019
BY SOLOMON DIBABA
