It was March 1st 1896 and Ethiopia’s distinction as the only nation in Africa spared subjugation by European colonial rule was suddenly under existential threat.
The enormity of the danger of losing this unique place in African and world history was not lost on the Ethiopians of that era who mobilised resources and every sinews in their beings to check the military advance of the Italians whose incursion into East Africa was hitting climactic heights.
Thanks to Ethiopia’s decisive victory, Italy’s expansionist designs in the Horn of Africa were checkmated but this did not prevent other European powers to slice up the continent into a patchwork quilt of colonial entities the boundaries of which had survived to this day thanks to the Berlin Conference.
Ethiopia had emerged unscathed from this conference meant to carve up the rest of the continent, maintaining her independence but the victory at Adwa during the first Italo-Ethiopian war became a continent-wise emblem of resistance against this European onslaught and all others which came before and after it.
129th years later, the anniversary of the decisive military success is being celebrated in Ethiopia under the theme “Adwa: Victory of Black People.”
Speaker after speaker at the event Sunday in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia reminded Africans that the victory belongs to African anti-colonial resistance folklore.
Former African Union Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat said the importance of that battle speaks to the dignity of the African person.
“We must remember that Adwa was not simply a military victory, it was a victory for African self-determination, a victory for the dignity of our people and, more importantly, a victory for the idea that African can chart their own destiny free from the interference of foreign powers,” Mahamat said.
The battle of Adwa was a defining victory that transcends borders and generations, Mahamat said, noting that it was a triumph that reshaped Africa’s destiny and continues to inspire African aspirations for a united and prosperous continent that is at peace with itself and the rest of the world.
“As we reflect on Adwa, let us mainly commemorate the past, but reignite its spirits as we tackle the new and emerging challenges of our times,” he added.
Recalling that this year’s African Union theme is justice for Africans and people of African descent through reparations, Mahamat noted that the Battle of Adwa also ignited a global demand for justice, dignity and reparation for Africans and people of African descent.
Mahamat also emphasised the enduring significance of Adwa, describing it as more than a military triumph.
Ethiopia’s victory over fascist Italy at Adwa was more than a military success and a testament to the world that freedom is won by those who refuse to be conquered, the country’s defense minister Aisha Mohammed said.
Successfully checking the colonial aggression is not also just a memory but a symbol of unity and unwavering determination, the minister added.
MG/as/APA