Mar 18, 2018 | Culture, Ethiopia, History
On 4th May 1940, the Ethiopian World Federation lost one of its brightest shining stars, and founding member, Dr Malaku. E. Bayen to lobar pneumonia. His death came almost four years to the very day of the Italian entrance into Addis Ababa and one year prior to Haile Selassie’s triumphant return to the Ethiopian capital.
Of Dr Bayen Haile Selassie in his Autobiography wrote “In the month of May 1940, we heard of the death, in America, of our loyal servant Dr. Malaku Bayen. When we were told of his death, we mourned him at our residence in Bath. Dr Bayen was our palace servant whom we raised up from childhood. Realizing his diligence and farsightedness, we sent him to be educated in America in 1921, and hardworking as he was, he became a medical doctor. When the Italians invaded Ethiopia, he came to serve his country and his Emperor, and marched to Maychew with us. He had a strong desire to help wounded soldiers and we have heard about the service he rendered operating on them. Dr. Malaku Bayen came to England with us after the war. Them he proceeded to America, where he worked hard to help Ethiopia in any way possible. He did a commendable job of mobilizing and organizing African Americans in supporting Ethiopia’s cause”……………. Haile Selassie I.
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Mar 12, 2018 | Culture, Ethiopia, History, Music & Video, Shashemane
Ras Tafari Studies
CNN Report: Ethiopian World Federation Historic 1948 Land Grant
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Mar 4, 2018 | Culture, Ethiopia, Historical Culture, History, Important Dates
The Battle of Adwa was fought on 1 March 1896
between the Ethiopian Empire and the Kingdom of Italy near the town of Adwa, Ethiopia, in Tigray. This climactic battle of the First Italo-Ethiopian War, was a decisive defeat for Italy and secured Ethiopian sovereignty. As the 20th century approached, Africa had been carved up among the European powers at the Berlin Conference of 1884–85. The two independent exceptions were the Republic of Liberia on the west coast, which had begun as a settlement of repatriated American slaves. These slaves were sent by the American Colonization Society, who believed blacks would face better chances for freedom in Africa than in the United States. The second independent nation being Ethiopia, or then still commonly known as Abyssinia. Italy was a relative latecomer to the imperialist scramble for Africa. Italy’s only possessions were African territories: Eritrea and Italian Somalia. Both were near Ethiopia on the Horn of Africa and both were impoverished. Italy sought to improve its position in Africa by conquering Ethiopia and joining it with its two territories.
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Mar 3, 2018 | Culture, Ethiopia, Events, Historical Culture, History, Kotebe Addis Ababa
Yonas Tadesse/AFP/Getty Images
Tue 20 Feb 2018 09.00 GMT
The Addis Ababa massacre or Graziani massacre, in which 20,000 to 30,000 Ethiopians were killed by Italian occupying forces on 19 February 1937, is commemorated at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in the Ethiopian capital
Two Ethiopian war veterans sporting military regalia walk down a path during a memorial service in Addis Ababa commemorating the massacre
Ethiopian war veterans sporting military regalia attend the memorial service
Ethiopian war veterans and priests at the memorial service at the Kidist Selassie, or Holy Trinity Cathedral, a cathedral of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo church
An Ethiopian war veteran walks to the memorial service for the civilians massacred in reprisal for an attempt to assassinate Rodolfo Graziani, the colonial governor of Italian East Africa
A priest blesses war veterans
Marshal Rodolfo Graziani was one of Benito Mussolini’s commanders in the Italian colonial wars in Libya and Ethiopia before and during the second world war. He ordered the three-day massacre after an attempt on his life
Photograph: SeM/UIG via Getty Images
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Oct 16, 2017 | Culture, Dates, History
Important Dates: November 2nd
On November 2, 1930, Ras Tafari Makonnen the descendent of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia. At his Coronation he took the name Haile Selassie I, meaning “Might of the Trinity.”
He was also known as the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Elect of God, Light of this World and was the 225th restorer of the Solomonic Dynasty.
The Coronation, which was held at St Georges Cathedral in Addis Ababa, was attended by hundreds of foreign dignitaries from France, USA, Japan, England and Germany to name a few countries; Ethiopian nobles, the clergy and Ethiopian citizens to gather to witness the anointing and crowning of Haile Selassie I and his wife Empress Menen.
The event was also covered by the world’s press.
“And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh, a name writing, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS”
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May 24, 2017 | Culture, Dates, Ethiopia, Events, Historical Culture, History, Important Dates
commemoration of the 25th May 1963 foundation of the Organisation of African Unity (now known as the African Union). It is celebrated in various countries on the African continent, as well as around the world. On 25 May 1963, representatives of thirty African nations attended a meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, hosted by Emperor Haile Selassie I. By that time more than two-thirds of the continent had achieved independence, mostly from imperial European states. It was at this meeting, that the Organisation of African Unity was founded. The African Union theme for 2017 is “Harnessing Demographic Dividend through Investments in the Youth”. This theme was chosen since the future of our continent, our unity, our hopes and aspirations for the peaceful and prosperous Africa, rests in the hands of our young people.
In the late 1950’s, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah first President of Ghana and the first Prime Minister of Ghana introduced the concept of African Unity to the continent this concept, stressed the immediate unity of the African continent.
He was inspired by the writings of black intellectuals such as Marcus Garvey, W. E. B. Du Bois, and George Padmore, and his relationships with them. Much of his understanding and relationship to these men was created during his years in America as a student. Some would argue that his greatest inspiration was Marcus Garvey.
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