Adwa African Victory

Sense of unity Regarded first-ever decisive victory of black people over colonial powers, Adwa inspired liberation movements across AfricaI’m an event description. Click here to open up the Event Editor and change my text. Simply click me, Manage Event and start editing your event. I’m a great place for you to say a little more about your upcoming event.

Ethiopians from all walks of life gathered at Menelik Square in the heart of the capital Addis Ababa on Tuesday to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Victory of Adwa.

The Battle of Adwa was the last and most decisive of a series of battles Ethiopians fought against the invading colonial forces of Italy – a colonial force that had ambitions to bring the whole East Africa region under its control.

Adwa, historians agree, had served as a pre-eminent emblem for Pan-African movements across Africa and beyond.

The 1889 Wuchale Treaty signed between Italy and Ethiopia served as the immediate cause of the final showdown between the two sides in the mountainous terrain of northern Ethiopia. The Italian version of the agreement said Ethiopia was obliged to conduct its foreign relations through Italy. The Amharic version of the article, however, stated that the Emperor could use the good offices of the Kingdom of Italy in his relations with foreign nations if he so wished.