This is a story of how Ethiopians down in history stunned the entire humanity—a confrontation where good was seen prevailed over evil and light over darkness. With only twenty four hours, our forefathers and mothers beat back Italian colonialists at the battle of Adwa.
The victory not only saved Ethiopia from scramble, but also inspired Africans entirely and the children of the African diaspora across the planet.
It was that grand epic that forged the beginning of pan-Africanism that eventually led to the movement for independence.
The victory of Adwa has fueled the spirits of freedom fighters across Africa and beyond, says Professor Paul Zilungisele Tembe,a South African author, multilingual and a seasoned scholar as well .
In an interview he showed up in zoom from South Africa Tembe told EBC English that the victory of Adwa is the bedrock of pan-Africanism.
“The victory which manifested on the 2nd of March , 129 years ago in the African continent crushed conspiracies of colonial powers to scramble Africa and its untapped resources, eventually proving ill-plans of aggressors wrong.
According to Professor Paul Zilungisele Tembe, the Adwa victory is not just a historical milestone for Ethiopia but also the bedrock of Pan-Africanism, inspiring generations across the continent and the diaspora.
Ethiopia's triumph over Italian forces at Adwa marked the first time an African nation successfully defended itself against European colonization. He further elaborated that Adwa's significance extends beyond Ethiopia's borders, as it laid the foundation for the Pan-African movement, which sought unity, self-determination, and liberation for all African peoples.
The victory demonstrated that collective resistance and unity could overcome even the most formidable challenges.
Adwa's spirit of defiance and pride continues to resonate in modern struggles for justice and equality, making it a cornerstone of African identity and solidarity.
Adwa victory remains a powerful symbol of resilience and unity, embodying the principles of Pan-Africanism and inspiring future generations to uphold the values of freedom and self-determination,the South African prof further explained .
The Berlin conference for scramble for Africa failed, Tembe says, recalling the stunning patriotic movement of Ethiopians which he says inspired all black people to stand up for freedom.
The Berlin conference, “whose effect and damage still resonates in some regions of today’s Africa “he says, fortunately failed to take root in Ethiopia .
And it's not a coincidence the AU, formerly the Organization of African Unity, has its seat in Addis Ababa today, the South African professor explains.
“The victory of Adwa is a beacon of hope for Africans, black resilience globally” and a driving force for pan- Africanism – a victory that proved supremacy of imperialism wrong.
The resilience, unity and stamina Ethiopians back then showcased in the fight against colonialists should be employed in Africa today, says prof Tembe, further calling on the current generations of Africa and children of the African diasporas to benchmark the victory of Adwa in their pursuit for prosperous and full independent Africa.
He also accused colonialists of leaving backlogs of problems, including “artificial border demarcations “ they left behind for Africans today to compete .