Commemorating 113th Vict'ry at Adwa.

Blog by Smallaxe Magazine
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Exactly 113 years ago today, Africans dealt probably the mightiest blow to a formidable White imperial power proving her decisiveness in the invincibility of her unconquered people. The Battle of Adwa,1896 between an Ethiopian united front comprised of peasantry, noblemen, different tribes, religions and sundry fought off a better trained, sophisticated armed Italian army to much humbling by the Eastern African country.

Ethiopia since time in memorial, in fact, as far back as c.350 has had been plundered by numerous infidels. The Persian attacked it in 570 and the Turks took their swing at the Solomonic dynasty between 1578-1589.At its prime time the Turks' Ottoman Empire invaded it from the North, through Habesh a colony that they controlled adjoining the Red Sea.

A painting portraying the Battle of Adwa.Copyright British Museum.

Despite this however, Ethiopia has had to maintain a firm withstand even when compounded by dexterous military strategists, Jihadist cruelty at the fore front and natural calamity. The Battle of Adwa was perhaps a confirmation of the resilience that makes up an Ethiopian.Putting first their faith in the form of the Mosaic Tabot,Tablets of Law, in their priced possession, within the legendary memory of the first commander, its no wonder the battle only lasted seven hours or less.

Folklore has it that Queen Makeda of Seba sometimes pronounced as Sheba bore Solomon a child when she went to Jerusalem to test his Wisdom. The son was christened Menelik, Menelik I when he ascended to the throne after Queen-Mother died. According to Kebra Negast ,the Glory of the Kings,Menelik brought the Tabot to Ethiopia from Jerusalem. This belief has most Rastafarians axiomatizing Ethiopia as being the New Jerusalem, Zion, a pious solace of peace.

The Tabot form the core processional item in the Ethiopia Orthodox devotion,Ba Beta Kristyan Tewaido. Every church has a replica that they set at the center of the altar; where only ordained Priests and Monks can access for the sole reason of prayer and supplication.

This is the reason why in most likelihood Menelik II used these Tablets of the Law as the unifying aspect at the Battle of Adwa and proved so successful.Today as we honor the gracefully dead of Adwa we cast our eyes upon the great mountain that arguably the Tabot has found as a newly-revered haven and implore "Peace,Oh Lord grants us Peace".



References:
www.tadias.com
www.wikipedia.org
www.rastaites.com
www.zum.de
www.hakobo.art.pl