The collective historical memory is the repository of a people’s own self-perception, awareness, and beliefs. ![]() It comprises stories of revolutions, wars, victories, defeats, and conquests – events that most profoundly affect lives and arouse passions and for that reason shape the political, social, and cultural fabric of a given people. The ruins of collective memoryĬollective historical memory is a highly heterogeneous and complex constellation of momentous events, figures, and phenomena that helps a nation define its identity and place in the world. As Ethiopia seeks to forge a new path forward, it brings existing ideological and political faultlines into a sharp focus, and in the process history in general and Adwa, in particular, are becoming a battleground where multiple forms of power struggles and competing modalities of remembering and forgetting converge. Today, the differences between these multiple interpretations are more obvious, and impactful, than ever before. ![]() They aim to control meaning, solidify an ideological position, or simply fit this historical episode into a larger contemporary narrative, and as a result, cannot agree on a single interpretation. In other words, the battle of Adwa is an event that is etched into the consciousness of a significant portion of the Ethiopian population, but it does not carry the same meaning for everyone. The contemporary narratives about the battle are largely retrospective, often reconstructed based on current political and ideological considerations. ![]() Still others view Adwa as the very first decisive victory of a black African power against colonialism, and celebrate it as a critical juncture in black people’s collective struggle against European colonial domination. It was a landmark victory that permanently altered the course of Ethiopian and African history. The outcome of the battle was so stunning for Ethiopia and so humiliating for Italy that, according to the New York Times, even the pope was “ greatly disturbed“.Īdwa is annually commemorated as an iconic victory in Ethiopia, but it nevertheless remains a focal point of political and ideological contestation between various nationalist groups in the country.įor some, it is a momentous event that defined the weight and prestige of Ethiopia on the global stage and stands as a shining example of the endurance and fortitude of the Ethiopian people to this day. For others, the historic battle is not a “heroic victory” as such, but an unfortunate military achievement that helped Emperor Menelik II consolidate his brutal southward expansion. The BBC has not independently confirmed the claim.Ī statement by the government communications office blamed individuals it claimed wanted to “create disturbances”.Today marks the 123rd anniversary of the battle of Adwa in which Ethiopia inflicted a crushing defeat on Italy’s colonial army. Several people who sustained injuries were reportedly admitted to hospitals.Īn opposition party, the National Movement of the Amhara, said one its members was killed by bullets fired by security forces. Senior army and government officials were in attendance. The official celebrations were held at Meskel Square, the city’s main square, which is uncommon for this particular holiday. ![]() Residents told the BBC that police also blocked all ways leading to the square, which one described as “unprecedented”. Police fired tear gas inside a historical Orthodox Christian church where some people had sought refuge after hundreds of people were dispersed from a city square named after Menelik II. The day marks victory over Italian invaders in the famous Battle of Adwa in 1896 by the army of Emperor Menelik II, the founder of modern-day Ethiopia. Tensions remain in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, after police targeted civilians who held parallel celebrations to mark Adwa Victory Day on Thursday.
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