In Ethiopia the distance of different places is measured from Emperor Menelik II square, the center of Addis Ababa since its foundation. In the same place, patriots from the Southern and Central part of the country converged for the first time to march to Adwa, the war front where Emperor Menelik II defeated the occupying Italian forces in 1896.
The government has now launched construction of a multipurpose complex called Addis Ababa Adwa Memorial Centerin this very place with a catchword “everything starts here” since it is located both in the initial point of all journeys including the journey to the Victory of Adwa.
Press and Media head with Press and Protocol Secretariat of Addis Ababa Mayor Office; Bereket Takele says Adwa Center is a multipurpose complex to be build with an outlay of 4.7 billion birr allocated by the City Administration.
The center is being constructed to commemorate the victory of Adwa and the patriots, to promote the history of Adwa and to hand over to the next generation, to motivate the young generation by giving credit to the spirit, unity, patriotism and heroism of Ethiopian Patriots of Adwa.
According to Bereket the Victory of Adwa is a symbol of unity, togetherness, pride, patriotism, freedom and black people’s liberty for which all Ethiopians from every corner of the country contributed. Hence, it is crucial to give recognition to this victory and to have a memorial center at the Capital City of the country and the seat of Africa, Bereket added.
Considering this in mind, Addis Ababa City Administration started construction of Adwa Center in the center of the city which is expected to complete within two years, Bereket noted.
Addis Ababa Adwa Center is expected to have Adwa museum focused on historic issues related to Adwa, Cinema hall, library, gallery and ornament centers, recreational centers, four halls, gym center and other facilities mainly focused on historic and art. The center will also play its role in research for historians, he said.
Addis Ababa Culture, Art and Tourism Office Head, Nebiyu Baye on his part says that Adwa is beyond a victory, it is a movement and an idea which declares freedom, equality and liberty for all human beings. Victory of Adwa is a cornerstone for the establishment of Pan-Africanism movement and gives strength for African freedom fighters.
“Adwa is not simply a war victory, it is an idea and a concept which carry strength, self-respect and liberty”, Nebiyu said. It is a movement and an idea which mobilizes all black people for their freedom and declared equality of all human beings. It is also considered as the beginning of the endfor colonialism by the spirit and unity of Ethiopian patriots.
According to Nebiyu building a memorial center for this historic event in Addis Ababa will play a crucial role in transmitting history, to remember the heroes of Adwa and to keep the concepts of Adwa to the next generation.
The design of the center considers the war campaign, the main war events and places, the idea of colonialism of the era, the idea of freedom and soldiers mobilization and settlement in the building in monuments, sculptures and murals.
Nebiyu stated that currently the focus of Adwa Center is on design and other preparations of the construction. But, parallel with that his bureau jointly with the City Administration will work to gather historic materials, books, theaters, songs and other necessary heritages to put in the museum and library which remember Adwa.
The main aim of the Center is to develop the concepts and movements of Adwa to pass to the coming generation, to promote the victory and to make it center of research on history and accessible for tourists.
Bereket stated that the victory of Adwa is celebrated every year in Addis Ababa Menelik-II Square, near the commenced center, it will add value to promote Adwa, to teach the youth of the country the value of Adwa during the celebration.
Both Nebiyu and Bereket noted that on the methods of transmitting the history the center will contain constant exhibition centers, galleries and other art centers.
The center will play its own role in boosting and promoting the role of unity and togetherness in combating national enemies and the role of Adwa in African freedom.
Parallel with the construction of the center,the bureau planned to gather materials used in Adwa, books and other heritages found scattered in different parts of the country and different museums, Nebiyu said. In addition there are movies, songs and theatres on Adwa and the bureau will collect all these tangible and intangible heritages.
It will also contain different materials, historic books, war results and films of African movements of anti-colonialism since Adwa is a victory of all black people and African countries, According to head of the bureau.
Bereket on his part added that in addition to gathering all these tangible and intangible heritages, the theatre halls will show these archived videos, films and songs.
Nebiyu further stated that the Victory of Adwa is an indicator of Ethiopian unity and togetherness. All Ethiopians came together at Adwa for their freedom. Hence the center will show that victory of Adwa is the victory of all Ethiopians and it is the right place to build in the capital, the center of the country. According to him it will also play its own role in boosting tourism flow of Addis Ababa.
The Ethiopian Herald July 27/2019
BY DARGIE KAHSAY
