BY LEULSEGED WORKU
Ethiopia is the symbol of freedom; for that very reason it has special place in the heart of every black people. Ethiopia is born out of the womb of Ethiopianism where the zeal for dying for national dignity and unity is its essence. Ethiopianism is born out of those black people who were subjugated because of their race, religion or political principles. Ethiopianism is founded under the core values of freedom and it believes that all people are born equal and Africa belongs to Africans. It is a philosophy that preached spirituality is innate and it is an inside out life rather than the religious ideology that is put by external forces.
Ethiopianism became a generic term to describe a whole range of the black man’s efforts to improve his religious, educational, and political status in society. This expresses a problem; it cannot be defined simply as a religious phenomenon. The rise of the Ethiopian church movement, the first expression of independency in the African ecclesiastical context, towards the end of the nineteenth century, signified the emergence of a brand of African church often referred to as ‘secessionist’ because Africans left the missions and mission churches to initiate and safeguard authentic African Christian development through the indigenization of the church in governance, leadership and means of expression, as documents indicated.
In his article entitled “Ethiopianism in Pan-African perspective”, 1880-1920 Graham A. Duncan, put Ethiopianism in the following way: Ethiopianism refers to subsequent secessions which occurred in Ethiopian-type churches. Ethiopian roots can be traced to biblical times and the then known regions of northern Africa. This Pan-African expression of Christianity was based on the text of Psalm 68:31: ‘Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.’ It encapsulated a sense of cultural and political identity amongst black people throughout the African continent as an affirmation of the place black people has in God’s salvific plan.
What is more, in his article, entitled “Ethiopianism for the current and future Ethiopia” Professor Mamo Muche indicated that, Ethiopiainsm is beyond religion. It is lifestyle of black people and a spirit that ignites all black people to understand the meaning of freedom and black dignity.
When Ethiopianism philosophy started in America and South Africa, black people and all their value systems-including their religion was considered as evil. In those times, it was common to consider black people as if they are Satan while those white people angles. For this reason, the black priests were victims of these ill-conceived racist principles. However, this does not mean that all the black priests were victims of this racist philosophy. There were enlightened black priests who could not swallow the idea of considering black as devil and white people as angels. For this reason, there were individual black priests who revolt against the system.
After several struggles, these devoted black priests have decided to found a church. When they search for the right name for their newly established black church, Ethiopia- whose name is mentioned repeatedly on the bible- has become their preference.
Ethiopianims might be a spiritual movement. However, it also had a core message for all black people living all over the world to stand for their right. It was a philosophy that struggles for the freedom of black people.
Ethiopianism is established based on eight core values: Spiritual freedom, self-confidence, pride, independence, resisting external pressure, balancing and sharing spiritual freedom with that of earthly freedom, unity with subjugated people of the world and humanity.
According to the writer, Ethiopiansm is a philosophical thought that stood for the freedom of people of the world. The professor further indicated in his letter that, though other groups have used the principle in corrupted ways, it has helped several peoples to be free from the yolk of slavery.
Ethiopia was truly taken as a model of freedom for those people who were under the shadow of slavery. These days, those Western countries might have stretched their hands to feed hungry Africans. But, Ethiopia has stretched its hands to feed spiritual bread to enslaved people of the world. This is a good indication that no matter how hard enemies of Ethiopia tried to undermine the true essence of Ethiopia, the land will have special place in the heart of every black people and every enslaved people of the world. The nation has served as a model and stimulus to fight white supremacy.
Indeed, as it was mentioned once by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia is not simply a land that is located in the Eastern corner of Africa. It is a free land that inspired black people that are found all over the world. It is a land that stimulates all people that were under the shackle of slavery.
Ethiopia and Ethiopianism are still the inspiration to African people. No matter how strong the storm they are passing through, no matter how external and internal forces are trying to undermine the true nature of Ethiopia, the land will prevail. Ethiopiansm has once inspired people of the world. Now it will inspire Ethiopians themselves.
Ethiopians have demonstrated to the whole world how resistant they are to slavery repeatedly. Before they beat the Fascist Italy, Ethiopians have conquered the white supremacy through Ethiopianism. The land has become model for equality. Following the Victory of Adwa, Ethiopia has revealed itself to the whole world the value of freedom. It is still serving as a model of freedom and dignity for Africans and black people all over the world.
The Ethiopian Herald September 4/2021
