The Victory of Adwa has changed the history of Ethiopia. It has also changed the history of Africa. Most importantly, it has changed the relationship between colonizers and colonies. It has opened a new chapter in the dynamics of relations between the new world and the old world. People’s perception of Africa has changed because no one before Adwa thought of Africans as capable of winning a war against a developed European army. It was also stated that it was just a huge blow to the mentality of ‘superiority’ of the white man over the black man. It is hence appropriate to say that there is no doubt therefore that the Victory of Adwa has opened a new chapter in the relations between the ‘white’ world and the African world.
Adwa is not considered a victory only for Menelik, the Ethiopians, and Africans, but ultimately a victory of the oppressed over the oppressors; it was a victory against injustice and exploitation in a broader sense. It was a victory of good over evil. The scramble for Africa was flying high on African skies with the division of the entire continent by European powers, who raced to conquer as many areas as possible in every part of the continent. England and France had the lion’s share of the African continent, but others as well took an active part such as the Belgians, the Portuguese, and the Germans. One of the newcomers was the Italians and to catch up, they tried to colonize Ethiopia, which has been free and not conquered. That was why Italy embarked on the campaign against the Ethiopians. But evidently, the Italians did not know that Ethiopians were people who always fought for their freedom and sovereignty and that before Adwa they had inflicted defeats over other invaders from around the vicinity of the borders of the country.
History books record that Ethiopia’s history is full of warfare and battles after battles and that Ethiopians have always fought hardly to foil the invaders because there were at one time the Turks, the Egyptians, and the Sudanese who on one occasion or another, did try to invade or occupy parts of Ethiopian land and subject them to their jurisdiction. Academics would say that given the geopolitical significance of the location of Ethiopia, it was always in the eye of the cyclone. It was always in the minds of many states that considered themselves powerful enough to conquer Ethiopia. The fact that it is adjacent to the blood line of international trade on the Red Sea routes, and because of the pressure of the origin of the mighty Nile, the geopolitical importance of Ethiopia was undeniably significant. That is why there was a lot of interest in the country.
But Ethiopians have always had the antique tradition of fighting back against any alien force who would try to sneak into their territory, foiling every aggression successfully and conserving their sovereignty. When the invading Italian forces came to Ethiopia, they evidently did not have enough awareness about the essence of Ethiopians. Ethiopians could have a range of differences, disputes, and discrepancies amongst themselves, but when an alien force tries to attack their land, they immediately leave aside their internal differences, disregard their disputes, and stand united to defend their territorial integrity and sovereignty. That has happened several times in Ethiopia because they say their internal fights can take place only if in the first place they have a country that they can call their own. That is what happened at Adwa and that was what had happened before Adwa.
The Victory of Adwa has many protagonists, but the ones we are always well informed about and shine over others are the Emperor Menelik, his spouse, Empress Taitu, and several other war leaders such as Ras Mekonnen, Ras Mengesha, Dejazmach Balcha, Fitawrari Habte Giorgis, etc. But Adwa was much greater than the usual leaders. Thousands of people contributed to the victory of Adwa, and without their input, it could not have succeeded in any way. The estimated one hundred twenty thousand troops did not reach the battle front without the assistance of other thousands of people who took part in preparing and providing all the necessary materials to be able to take part in the battle.
The thousands of women who took part in the preparation of the necessary provisions for the troops should now be mentioned here as part of the battle because the campaign was known to take months and the issue of the survival of the troops physically fit and well-nourished as well as armed was a key factor in the entire campaign. The logistics were a huge task because horses, mules, and donkeys were used to transport the provisions, the tents where the troops would sleep at night, and other stuff necessary for the campaign.
Besides food and water, there was also the need to take care of all those who might feel ill during the campaign and the wounded during the various battles, even before Adwa. Emergency assistance was indispensable, and every action that was scheduled to take place during the campaign needed to be well organized, timed, and carried out without chaos. There was an efficient line of command, and everybody knew what their roles and contributions would be. That was why the campaign needed to be well planned and directed.
The role of the women was hence equally significant and decisive as that of the men. There was also a group of health officers who took care of those who needed any type of medical assistance during the entire campaign.
The battle of Adwa is hence a huge victory against a formidable enemy who was well trained, organized, and armed, but it was the resolve of Ethiopian patriots who just gathered without training to defend their country with every traditional weapon they could avail of, such as spears, old rifles, guns, shields, and swords, but above all, they had the courage to face the enemy head-on and emerge in face-to-face confrontation. Thousands faced unavoidable death, but that did not bother them at all. They knew they were fighting for the right and sublime cause. They knew they were obeying the order and leadership of their king, and they knew that the stakes were not only their freedom but also their religion, their culture, and their families’ existence. That was why they never hesitated to put their lives in the line of fire without budging, or trying to hide.
The Victory of Adwa has perpetuated the myth of unbeatable Ethiopia in any battle that had at stake their sovereignty, dignity, and freedom. Adwa’s light continues to shine, and Africans have continued to be inspired by it. Many books have been written about Adwa, but evidently not enough, and not to the deserved extent or detail. A lot of research needs to be undertaken, and all those who were forgotten need to be recalled and obtain due credit because the intricacies of this battle were enormous. The protagonists are not only the usual few who continue to be recalled at any event that relates to Adwa.
Credit must be due to many thousands, and definitely there may be several stories of each one of those who took part in the campaign who might have told their story to family members or friends before dying, and those in turn must share their stories with others and may keep records of them so that every light is shed on the story from multiple perspectives by multiple story tellers.
The newly constructed Adwa Victory Memorial has done some justice to this huge historical event, and all Africans can come to Addis and refresh their memory by visiting it. For many, the construction of the monument is long overdue, and the Abiy Ahmed government deservedly takes credit for realizing this project right at the heart of Addis Ababa, the capital of Africa, and filling a huge gap. From now on, many people, especially those of African descent, will have another extra stimulus to come to Addis and take their time to visit this memorial, majestically placed at the center of the city and very easily accessible. It is also an inspiration for the coming generation and a deserved tribute to all those who sacrificed their lives to give us a free country, full of pride and dignity. We must be grateful to them. One way of expressing our gratitude is by preserving their spirit of union and cohesion that kept the country intact. In the event we do the contrary we are betraying their cause and their sacrifice.
BY FITSUM GETACHEW
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2024
