As Ethiopia celebrates today the victory of Adwa, which was on a battle against the Italian colonial forces in 1896, February is also observed as Black History Month (BHM) by black communities in different parts of the globe.
These two occasions have their own historical relationship based on the fact that the victory of Adwa has been considered inspirational for all black communities who have been under the influence of colonialism and racism, says Professor Mitiku Haile, a lecturer at Mekele University and who highlights on Pan-Africanism. “Though currently the Black History day has different themes, Adwa is a history of black people.
It has inspired oppressed people in North America, Caribbean countries, in Brazil and all Africans who have been fighting for their freedom. Whenever modern history of Africa is mentioned, Adwa is usually a prominent figure,” he notes. A colonial power defeated by a black nation has sparked light at the time and it has its own contribution for the initiatives of some Black civic right movements and those who are being honored on Black History Month observations, according to Professor Mitiku.
Timothy Green, African American Poet who is currently living in Addis Ababa shares Mitiku’s idea and tells The Ethiopian Herald that it is always important to remember the great things that African Americans have done and learn about black peoples’ accomplishments. “Every year when we observe Black History Month we learn about great people like Benjamin Banneker, who has designed Washington DC,” says Timothy.
On the other hand, there was a time that Ethiopianism was born in the hearts of African Americans. Timothy says “When the news about the victory of Adwa came in 1896 it was very important to the black people in America. That is one country which didn’t fall for colonialism and Ethiopianism has become a great deal in the early nineteen hundreds”. Timothy notes that he celebrates both the Black History Day and Victory of Adwa in a school where he is currently teaching here in Addis.
Meanwhile, he says the Victory is very important to all black people that the conversation between many people in America while celebrating Black History Month has also broadened recently. “It’s not only the African American black history that we talk about but also the black history all over the world.
In this case the victory of Adwa is very prominent,” Coach Carlos Thornton, an African American who also moved to Ethiopia a decade ago, says for his part that African Americans didn’t get the chance to study black history in high school and if it happens it was more related to slave history during his time. “Ethiopians fight to the grave with the Italians and the victory of Adwa was a significant turning point in black history that gave black people around the world to fight for their right.
We would have lost many things if it wasn’t for the victory of Adwa. Ethiopia maintained its independence and continued its effort for the united Africa and that is because of the battle of Adwa. Everything that has occurred to unify Africa was because of Adwa,” according to him.
As a result, Professor Mitiku stresses that embracing this historical event understanding it with the context of its time, which brought all Ethiopians together and sacrifice themselves for freedom.
Ayele Bekri (PhD) once strongly stressed this idea saying, Adwa is a common aim and common future plan. “We need to clearly understand the principle Adwa proved to us and express our ownership of the victory in practical terms.
If Africa has to write and promote its own history, it would be obligatory to follow the Adwa principle [which all Ethiopians together were willing to sacrifice themselves fighting against the colonial invader],” According to Ayele.
The Ethiopian Herald, March 2/2019
BY HENOK TIBEBU
