Ethiopia celebrates 113th anniversary of victory against Italian invaders
In Menelik II Square stands the imposing equestrian
statue of Emperor Menelik II, the victor of Adowa.
The statue was erected by Emperor Haile Selassie and
dedicated on the day before his coronation in 1930,
in memory of his great predecessor. flickr.com
02 March, 2009
APA - Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) Ethiopians observed on Monday the 113th anniversary of the Victory of Adwa against the Italian invaders who attempted to colonize the country in 1896.
The Battle of Adwa (also known as Adowa) was fought on 1-2 March 1896 between Ethiopia and Italy near the principal market town of northern Ethiopia where the Italian invaders were defeated by Ethiopians in their first attempt to colonize the country.
The Italian invaders were defeated again after 40 years of attempts to colonize the country.
The day is being celebrated throughout the country to commemorate the historic day when Ethiopia defeated the better equipped Italian Army to remain the only independent nation in Africa during the colonial period.
The day is being celebrated in Addis Ababa at the Menelik square in a ceremony attended by government officials, patriots and youths from various schools.
Speaker of parliament Teshome Toga said March 2 is a special day not only for Ethiopia but also for Africa as a day of independence against invaders.
He urged the youth to mobilize themselves in the battle against poverty which the country is giving priority.
“The youth have a big role to follow their forefathers’ history and make another history against poverty. The Battle of Adwa, which the Ethiopian forces under Emperor Menelik II defeated in unison an invading force of Italian troops, was one of the most significant turning points in the history of modern Africa,” he said.