The Victory of Adwa was one of the decisive successes for All Africans and black peoples all over the world as a whole; and for Ethiopians in particular. The triumph, apart from heralding Ethiopia’s independence, making the nation a symbol of freedom and on the other way round dispiriting global colonialist forces, it laid the foundation for the movement of Pan Africanism.
Following the victory Ethiopia scored against the invading Italian forces, quest for freedom and revolt against the colonial forces spread like wildfire. The importance of establishing solidarity, unity and creating strong bonds between and among black peoples became a matter that cannot be ignored or a thing that can be put aside. At last, after the relentless efforts of African leaders, including Emperor Haile Selassie I, Ethiopia and Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, the establishments of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which is later changed into the African Union (AU) in 1963, became a reality.
Pan-Africanism has been promoting unity and brotherhood, and created a sense of shared and common historical and cultural destiny among Africans and black people around the globe, said Takele Merid Director of the Institute of Ethiopia Studies, Addis Ababa University.
Speaking at a program held to launch a permanent Pan-African Exhibition Wing (PAW) to the public on Thursday, in the Museum of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies (IES) at Addis Ababa University, Tekele said that Ethiopia has contributed a lot to realize and strengthen Pan-Africanism. Among others, the Victory of Adwa, for instance, is considered as the landmark and the beginning of modern Pan-African movements elsewhere in the world.
The Pan-African Permanent Exhibition organized in the museum of the institute takes us back to the 1880s and largely to the 1960s. It also depicts Ethiopia’s endeavors and the efforts of heads of states to the unity of Africa, Takele added.
“We raised the issue of Pan-Africanism because the topic of Pan-Africanism is extremely important and meaningful more than any other time to us and Ethiopians in particular are facing a lot of challenges,” the Director stressed.
He further noted that Africans need more solidarity and more cemented Africa; and Ethiopians have also to overcome the challenges they are facing.
“To this end, we must learn from the past, from the founding fathers of Pan-Africanism, to make the future bright,” the Director underscored.
As to him, Pan-Africanism is important and the current generation should learn from its forefathers’ history and struggles as well as from those individuals who contributed significantly to the movement so as to imagine and work for the better future.
Representing Addis Ababa University’s President, Eng. Wubayehu Mamo on his part said that as a philosophy, Pan-Africanism represents the aggregation of the historical, cultural, artistic legacies of Africans across time and space.
Mentioning the role Ethiopia has played in strengthening Pan-Africanism and brining all the black people of the world to unity, he said that the victory of Adowa is a landmark event as after Adwa many things have happened that strengthened the people of Africa. For instance, among others, the realization of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963 was the major one.
Meanwhile, in his remark in relation to Africa Day 2022, António Guterres, UN Secretary-General said that Africa is a home for hope. “On Africa Day, we celebrate the enormous promise and potential of this diverse and dynamic continent.”
The prospects on the horizon are bright – from Africa’s growing and vibrant youth population to initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area, the Decade of Women’s Financial and Economic Inclusion, and the African Union’s bold vision for the future, Agenda 2063.
Pan Africanism movement is a worldwide movement and aimed at creating a sense of brotherhood and collaboration among all people of African descent whether they lived inside or outside of Africa.
The permanent historical exhibition, opened in relation to Africa Day aiming to commemorate day and celebrating Ethiopia’s impact on Pan Africanism as well as the role of Emperor Haile Selassie I and the great contemporary art exhibition, stays open till June 18, it was learnt.
BY STAFF REPORTER
The Ethiopian Herald 28 May 2022
