Battle of Adwa | 80th Anniversary Commemmoration | March 1976

Описание: Tuesday, March 2nd 1976.

Footage of the commemmoration of the Battle of Adowa (or Adwa), the military engagement during which the army of Emperor Menelik II defeated an invading army from Italy in Tigray Province.

Brigadier Teferi, the chairman of the Military Administrative Council of the Provisional Military Government (The Derg), reviewed the anniversary parade in Revolution Square, Addis Ababa. Alongside him were Major Mengistu Haile Mariam, First Vice Chairman, Provisional Military Administrative Council, and Lt. Colonel Atnafu Abate, Second Vice Chairman, Provisional Military Administrative Council.

Reuters Text:

"The parade included crowds carrying banners, warriors in traditional costume and spear carrying horsemen in ceremonial dress. Some of the crowd carried a large map showing the site of the Battle of Adowa where the Ethiopians crushed on Italian army, effectively halting European expansion into Ethiopia for many years.

Later, war veterans joined in the parade with singing. Chanting women and children joined musicians with huge drums which kept up a constant beat by a variety of ancient string instruments.

Italian ambitions for Ethiopia started in the late 19th Century, and although the forces of the Ethiopian Emperor, Menelik the Second, were victorious at Adowa, Italian forces occupied the country from 1936 to 1941.

Ethiopian newspapers recalling the Italian occupation, said that the anniversary should inspire the people to ensure their independence was safeguarded for all African nations and to liberate southern Africa."

Note:

Brigadier Benti would be assassinated in February 1977 and Lt. Colonel Abate executed in November of that year; both actions instigated by Mengistu Haile Mariam.