Posts Tagged ‘History’
Telegrams from Emperor Haile Selassie I
May 21st, 2009 | 
Author: 
From the original Voice of Ethiopia
A Message from the Emperor:
In reply to Father Blackett’s telegram to his Imperial Majesty for His birthday in Bath, England the following telegram was received after the meeting of the Celebration Emperor Haile Selassie Birthday Celebration Committee.
“For father Blackett, Please convey to your committee our deep appreciation to their kind message of good wishes.”
Emperor Haile Selassie I
Posted in 
Tags: 
The Battle of Adwa
The Battle of Adwa took place on 1st and 2nd March 1896 at Adwa in northern Ethiopia. The Battle occurred at a time when European nations were engaged in the scramble for Africa.
Notably, at the Berlin Conference in 1884-85, Africa was divided up for the European nations to colonise and Ethiopia was awarded to the Italians, all Italy had to do was use its troops to take possession of Ethiopia. On the 2nd March 1896, united Ethiopian forces commanded by Emperor Menelik II defeated the Italian army at the Battle of Adwa. It was the first time an African nation had defeated a European power. The Ethiopian victory at Adwa prevented the Italians from colonising Ethiopia.
Inauguration Day 2009
I welcome any opportunity to participate in the history of African people, whether on the Continent or in the Diaspora. The Inauguration of Barack Hussein Obama as the 44th President of the USA on 20th January 2009 presented such an opportunity.
Like many, I had watched Barack’s dignified and strategic campaign against Hilary Clinton and John McCain for the Presidency, during my seven month visit to Africa. I had shared the euphoria of Barack’s Presidential victory with one’s in South Africa, Mozambique and Ethiopia.
Nothing however, compared to the sense of pride and achievement amongst African Americans, that I discovered during my visit to Washington DC for the Inauguration.
African Americans that I spoke to were not of the opinion that Barack’s victory was going to change things overnight, or that he could miraculously improved the serious economic plight that the USA is now suffering from or that he could meet the needs of all black people.
