BY ABEBE WOLDEGIORGIS
The victory of the Ethiopian army led by Emperor Menelik II in 1896 at the Battle of Adwa over the invading Italian army redefined Ethiopia and the unity of its people.
In addition to preserving the country’s sovereignty, the victory was/is seen as an inspirational factor for black people around the world struggling for independence and equality against the yoke of colonialism.
After the end of the war, Ethiopia was recognized as independent state by the then supper power countries such as Great Britain, France, Germany, Russia and Italy too. Consequently, these countries opened their embassies in Addis Ababa.
Tingirtu Gebretsadik is an assistance professor of sociology at Jigjiga University. While reflecting his views to the media recently, he said that the victory of the Adwa battle mostly mentioned in terms of its military aspects. Writers and poets portrayed the heroic deeds of the gallant fighters. But the victory has many visible and imperceptible values when examined deeply.
The existence of Ethiopia as a state is recognized for more than three thousand years. The cultural and religious ties of the diverse people of Ethiopia and their strong bond have been demonstrated again and again.
The mobilization of regional armies led by the regional chiefs/ kings from Gamogofa, Wollega, Jimma, Shewa, Harar, Gojjam, Wollo and Gonder disregarding their difference by listening to the call of the emperor proved the common psychological makeup of Ethiopians.
Peasants’ dedication to support the war through supplying food and water to the fighters showed how the people stand together to preserve the unity of Ethiopia. “Hence, here we can see the anthropological and sociological elements which paved the way to the victory,” he added.
Biniyam Abebaw is an instructor in the University of Gondar. As to him, the Adwa victory should be observed beyond the military victory. Its implication goes beyond military victory.
It is the victory of the thinking of equality over subjugation. “Back in the days, some white supremacists claimed that God created black people to be inferior and it is the responsibility of white people to civilize blacks. But our forefathers discredited the narrative via the victory in Adwa,” he said.
Had Ethiopians accepted the supremacist thinking, black people would never have been gone to Adwa to defend their country from foreign aggression. It is a major paradigm shift.
As to Biniyam, Italian invaders claimed as if they came here with the mission to civilize black people. Yet, Ethiopia had its own civilization as testified by the writer Samuel Harington.
“Therefore, it can be said that the victory of Adwa is the manifestation of the conflict between two civilizations. When they come to Ethiopia, Italians faced a long established state structure, not the fragmented clan based society,” Biniyam added.
Tingirtu on his part said that, sometimes relation between peoples could be created based on subjugation and operation but Adwa avoided this scenario.
Ethiopians did not scarify their lives for their national treasure or petroleum but for their humanness. That is why the victory is symbolized as a pride of black people all over the world.
It also defended the Ethiopian identity from extinction. It was learned that Italians intended to impose new colonial and inferior mentality on Ethiopians. Therefore, emperor Menelik’s decree underlined the people’s courage to fight for their religion, land and culture.
As history testifies, black people have their own civilization and the Axum obelisk and the Egyptian Pyramids which were built by black people are testimonies to the claim. However, as time passed and when black people were preoccupied by civil war and poverty, whites began to defy their prominent history and civilization, as to him.
Ethiopia in its thousands of year’s history defended itself from foreign aggression and resisted the imposition of foreign domination. But as mentioned above, false narrations disseminated by enemies attempted to defy the heroic history of the country.
Spirituality was also part of the Adwa military victory. Mothers were praying for Ethiopian fighters for the victory to be on their side. As to Tingirtu, Muslims and Christians prayed based on their faith. Empress Taytu prayed overnight on the eve of the breakout of the war. These all indicated the role of religion in advancing the cause of freedom.
Women not only involved in supplying logistics but also in fighting as soldiers. The war engagement comprised all social classes including landlords, peasants, clergies and dignitaries at the royal court, the elders, the youth and even children.
For example, Girmachew Teklehawariat who wrote the first Ethiopian constitution in 1931, went from Harar to Adwa with his father to support the war efforts when he was 10 years old child.
Bahiru Zawdie the renowned Historian in his latest book known as “Habte Abamela” mentioned that by loading their horses and mules, the Konso people supplied food and water to fighters.
Oromos, Somalis and Hararis led by Ras Mekonen went from Harar to Adwa. The campaign proved the multinational aspect of Ethiopia existed for thousands of years.
During the campaign, Ethiopia was inhabited by traditional society. Neither modern infrastructure such as telephone, roads and mass media nor institutions were available.
But it was possible to rally hundreds of thousands of patriots by the call of the emperor and these showed that there was a culture of listening to each other regardless of religious and ethnic differences. It also proved that patriotism was a legacy from one generation to the next one.
More social interaction witnessed than the battle. As to Tingirtu, currently both Egyptians and the Sudanese assume “as if we are divided and fragmented by Ethnic lines but Ethiopians are connected with strong social fabric which lasted for many generations.
The recent campaign to ensure law and order in Tigray region also proved what it means by Ethiopian identity through showing loyalty to the government’s call to defend the nation’s sovereignty.
The narration of Adwa should not only focus on the military victory over colonialism but also on the anthropological and sociological dimension of the battle so that transferring the legacy of Adwa to the coming generation will be possible.
The Ethiopian Herald March 5/2021
