REPORT
Adua Victory Day Celebrated in SeattleMarch 3, 2003 |
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| Menelik Statue in Addis Ababa |
Ethiopians living in the northwest American city of Seattle, Washington State, celebrated on March 1st the Victory of the Battle of Adua in which Ethiopian patriots under the famous Emperor Menelik II humbled invading Italian colonial forces in 1896.
Invited by the Ethiopian Community Mutual Association, guest speaker Dr. Ghelawdewos Araia of the City University of New York said Ethiopian forefathers were not only astute diplomats who favored peace over war but also, in the face of aggression, the finest military commanders who took European army generals to task.
Hailing as an African peoples’ victory, Ghelawdewos said Adua demonstrates how a united people can overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges.
The event, whose historical significance was highlighted by a musical band which played traditional patriotic songs, was also an occasion for the Ethiopian Community Mutual Association members to assess ways of preserving Ethiopian historical and cultural heritage for the benefit of the emergence of a young Ethiopian-American generation. A Seattle-based Ethiopian TV network crew headed by Weyyin Negus was on hand covering the event.