The Battle of Adwa



The Battle of Adwa


Battle of Adwa, Unidentified artist from Ethiopia, 1968. Courtesy of the Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C.



The Battle of Adwa by Solomon Belachew, 1970. Courtesy of the Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C.


On March 1 and 2, 1896, the Ethiopian army defeated the invading Italian army at the Battle of Adwa. They were lead by Ethiopia's emperor of the time, Emperor Menelik II. This event ensured that Ethiopia would not be under colonial rule. Ethiopia is the only country in Afrika to never be colonized. The Battle of Adwa occurred after five years of Italian occupation at which point Ethiopian soldiers successfully banished the occupiers and their rule. News of the defeat spread around Afrika and the world and Ethiopia became a symbol of resistance to colonial oppression. In this vein, many countries throughout Afrika and the Caribbean adopted the colors of the Ethiopian flag: green, red and yellow in many different patterns. 
Hyphenated Ethiopian third culture kid. Twitter: @moonchereka

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