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125 Years After the Beacon of Ethiopian Unity Was Lit

A Statement by His Imperial Highness Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie, President of the Crown Council of Ethiopia

On the 125th Anniversary of the Victory of Adwa

It is 125 years since the People of Ethiopia gathered in unity under the rallying call of Emperor Menelik II to repel the foreign army which had invaded our homeland.

The Victory of the Battle of Adwa on 23 የካቲት 1888 (March 1, 1896, in the Western calendar) by the combined Ethiopian forces — who volunteered from around the Empire — lit a beacon of freedom and dignity which has inspired Africa and commanded the respect of the world ever since.

Adwa reflected the selfless courage of peoples from across the Empire who saw the cause of their collective Ethiopianness as something which enhanced their ability to defend their sovereignty and ability to forge their own destiny. Petty rivalries were put aside; there was mutual respect for the abilities and contributions among all the participants. And we saw what we could achieve when we acted together. Each Ethi-opian honoured the other.

Ethiopians are clearly pleased that the Government of Ethiopia has formally instituted recognition of this historic event.

The Crown Council marks this as the beginning of a full year of its celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Victory of Adwa, until 22 የካቲት 2014 (March 1, 2021), dur-ing which — as COVID-19 restrictions on travel and gathering permit — it will cele-brate the Victory and the cause of the unity of all members of the Ethiopian family.

God Bless Ethiopia. God Bless the Memory of Emperors Menelik II and Haile Selassie I.