Ethiopian community in Uganda marks 128th anniversary of Victory of Adwa

The Battle of Adwa was the climactic battle of the First Italo-Ethiopian War. The Ethiopian forces defeated the Italian invading force on Sunday,  March 1, 1896, near the town of Adwa.

KAMPALA | The Ethiopian community in Uganda gathered on Friday in Kampala to mark the 128th anniversary of Victory of Adwa.

On Sunday, March 1, 1896, near the town of Adwa, Ethiopians united to defeat an invading force of Italian troops as the European country tried to expand its colonial territory in the Horn of Africa.

Held at the Ethiopian Embassy in Kampala, the anniversary celebrations were marked with cake-cutting and toast moments in honour of brave Ethiopians who sacrificed their lives to resist the Italian rule.

Speaking at the anniversary, the Ambassador of Ethiopia to Uganda, Etsegenet Yimenu described the Adwa victory day as a landmark in the history of black population worldwide, particularly in Africa.

“It sparked two phenomenal incidents in Ethiopia and African history including decolonization of Africa and continental vision of Pan-Africanism,” the ambassador said.

“We as Africans made victory at the Battle of Adwa where the Ethiopian farmers, women, men and many other volunteers from all walks of life and ethnicity marched to repel the Italian aggressors, who had received the blessings of the colonial powers in the scramble for Africa in line with the resolutions of the 1884/1885 Berlin Conference.”

She added that this year’s Adwa celebration is unique because it has inspired the inauguration of an excellent museum in Addis Ababa in commemoration of the historical day.

“This new museum has 11 blocks each with five floors and is on five hectares of land where the marchers began their long journey to the Battle of Adwa from the city of Addis Ababa to the City of Adwa in the northern part of Ethiopia where the actual battle took place during the time 1896.”

The chief guest, and also Pan-Africanist Thelma Awori underscored the significance of the victory of Adwa in inspiring anti-colonial movement and Pan-Africanism across the continent.

However, she noted that despite the history of such movements, Africans must continue to work hard to end poverty and dependence on Europe.

“They (Europeans) are making us believe that we are poor and that we have to be dependent and that’s something we need to be mindful of,” Awori said.

The Battle of Adwa was the climactic battle of the First Italo-Ethiopian War. The Ethiopian forces defeated the Italian invading force on Sunday,  March 1, 1896, near the town of Adwa.

The decisive victory thwarted the campaign of the Kingdom of Italy to expand its colonial empire in the Horn of Africa.