The year 1896 marked a pivotal moment in Ethiopian history. At Adwa, Ethiopian forces faced an Italian army that sought to establish colonial control over one of the few independent African nations. Under the leadership of Emperor Menelik II, Ethiopian troops successfully resisted the invasion, preserving the country’s sovereignty and establishing a historical precedent for African resistance to colonization.
As Professor Molefi Asante notes, “…After the victory over Italy in 1896, Ethiopia acquired a special importance in the eyes of Africans as the only surviving African state from colonization.”
I documented these images between 2016-2018 both in the town of Adwa and in the capital, Addis Ababa. These commemorations reflect not only a historical event but also its continuing relevance for contemporary Ethiopian society. They provide an opportunity for reflection on the legacies of resistance, national identity, and collective memory, as well as for engagement with the ways in which history shapes public life today.
This series titled "After Adwa" looks into the commemorations and the people who participate in them, exploring how the memory of Adwa continues to inform cultural practices, historical consciousness, and the relationship between past and present in Ethiopia.
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