Office of the Prime Minister recently announced that a section of Emperor Menelik II’s Palace would be open for visitors in the near future. The Palace which hosts Office of the Prime Minister in its large premises is undergoing renovation currently. Upon becoming open for visitors, it will be the second such historical place in the country after that of Emperor Yohannes IV’s palace in Mekelle city.
In addition to these two palaces there are many other palaces in various parts of the country that served various dynasties and Kings. As the dynasties and kings that changed their capitals, they also built new palaces.
Among the well-known capitals in the history of the country are Axum, Lalibela, Debre Berhan, Gonder, Mekelle, and the current Addis Ababa. In addition to the central government’s seats, regional kings recognized by the central government like Jimma, Kaffa, Harar, Dessie, Wolayta and so on also built places. Furthermore, some emperors also built palaces in different places where they can stay during their working trips or vacation.
The palaces are historic and carry many historic materials used by the kings and Emperors of the time.They carry a lot of Ethiopian history. These are the homes and offices where the footprints of the kings and Emperors were laid. Hence, they transmit the period’s activities of the country to the next generation and are sources of research for historians.
Of these, currently nine of them are administered by the Ethiopian Palace Administration Office including the two palaces, Menelik II and National Jubilee palaces. This government organization is administering the palaces which still high officials of the federal government are using for their journey, in addition to the seats of the office of The President and Office of The Prime Minister. The remaining palaces are registered as heritages of the country and are under the administration of states and City Administrations Culture and Tourism Bureaus, according to Lemma Tamene, Museum Service and Heritage Protection Team Leader with Ethiopian Palace Administration.
Emperor Menellik II Palace is currently undergoing an amazing development of maintenance including the campus with over 130 million USD finance by donors. Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed recently announced that his office is working to open some part of Menellik II’s Palace for visitors since next September by renewing the surrounding with its historic values.
Out of these nine palaces, the rest are administered by states Culture and Tourism Bureaus collaborating with Authority for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritages (ARCCH), Lemma said.
Addis Ababa Menellik II, National Jubilee Palace, Mekelle Emperor Yohannes IV, Bahir Dar, Melkasa, Koka, Jimma, Wendo Genet and Dire Dawa are the nine palaces administered by this office. Currently only Mekelle Emperor Yohannes IV Palace, is open for tourists since 2017, after renewed by the office. Menellik II Palace of Addis Ababa was also on maintenance since 2014 and then currently by the efforts and commitment of Prime Minister Abiy, the renewing process of the palace widens with high budget, Lemma noted.
After the completion of the maintenance, since next September, Menellik palace will open for tourists according to the schedule of the prime minister office, he added.
Dire Dawa and Jimma Palaces are also currently on process of renewing. Some part of Bahir Dar Palace has also renewed although main parts of the palace still need additional maintenance. According to him a process has already started to renew The National Jubilee Palace. For the renewal of the National Jubilee Palace, a discussion has started with French Government to get financial and other supports, Lemma noted.
According to Lemma the office has a plan to open the palaces for tourists as they carry history of the country. But, all the palaces need maintenance, developing infrastructure and recreational centers. He said that almost all palaces have museums and contains many historic materials used by the kings and Emperors.
According to Lemma the palaces administered under the Palace Administration are aged over 50 years and all need renewing and maintenance. He said that after renewing the palaces and then adjusting the surrounding of the palaces campuses to make suitable for tourists and fulfilling all the necessary inputs, there is a plan to open all the palaces for tourists in the long term. By fulfilling cafeterias, Museums and other recreational centers with the historic materials of the palaces will attract both local and foreign tourists, according to the team leader.
“After preparing the ground for tourists then it also need research on how to properly open for tourists with clear guideline,” Lemma said. These palaces are highly secured since they are providing service for government officials even those out of the capital, he stated.
Lemma stated that, although a lot of palaces are found across the country, the Palace Administration is administering only these nine ones due to resource limitation. For example, Gonder, Ambo, Nekemte, Gode, Dessie, Entoto, Sidist Kilo Genete Leul and so on are administered under the states. Even Jimma and Mekelle were under the administration of the regional states and are incorporated to the office recently.
For the future, there is a plan to connect all registered palaces through network with their nearest palaces administered by the office. For example, Dessie, Gonder, and other related palaces to connect with the Bahir Dar palace and others, which is currently under research by the prime minister office, Lemma stated.
As one criterion to register any place or building as heritage is the persons used that specific place, home or area for any purpose, hence these palaces are among the heritages of the country. Their value is high and interesting for the next generations.
Almost all palaces need renewing and many parts of the palaces are spoiled since they serve for over 50 years. Lemma added that the effort of Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed to open Menellik II Palace for tourists is a new initiative. This will also play due role to give attention to the historic palaces of the country where ever they are.
Fanta Beyene, Public and International Relations Director at Authority for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritages (ARCCH) said that most of palaces are registered as heritages of the country under Culture and Tourism Bureaus. According to him although his office does not have the specific number of the palaces since they are under the administration of states bureaus, the authority is working with the states during the process of maintenance.
To protect the history, design and safety of the buildings as the heritages of the country, during the process of maintenance of the palaces,the authority is working with states during process of maintenance and the authority gives due attention to protect the historic value of the palaces during maintenance.
The Ethiopian Herald June 7,2019
BY DARGIE KAHSAY
