Historians stated that working together for national peace requires correcting single (or divisive) narratives and building unifying (or collective) ones.
Sharing their thoughts on constructing unifying narratives with EBC were Belay Belete, a history teacher, and Dr. Elias Abi Shakra, a history writer and volunteer journalist based in France.
History teacher Belay Belete argued that promoting single narratives today leads to repeated failures. He explained that prevailing narratives and shared values offer multifaceted benefits for nation-building. Belay Belete elaborated that even without formal government administration, Ethiopia's people possessed interconnected histories, supporting and accepting one another simply based on shared humanity, unrestricted by religion or language. Furthermore, military victories achieved against foreign powers who attempted to invade Ethiopia serve as evidence of the people's bonds and unity.
To ensure peace and sovereignty remain strong in the Ethiopia of tomorrow, he stressed it is essential to focus on children by promoting common narratives. Belay also asserted that the government must work to instill prevailing narratives within institutions starting from the grassroots level, adding that the issue requires attention at the family level as well. Finally, he highlighted the importance of artistic works that strengthen national sentiment and unity.
For his part, Dr. Elias Abi Shakra observed that while the establishment of the federal system is positive, problems arise when some individuals fail to respect Ethiopian identity (Ethiopiawinet). He suggested foreign intervention is one reason for the divisions seen on various occasions, adding, "We have many more common issues that unite us than those that divide us." Dr. Abi Shakra identified schools as the foremost institutions for teaching unity, noting, however, that works reflecting this theme have not been sufficiently developed within the arts sector.