Following the 1884 Berlin Conference, European powers went on a brutal rampage, claiming African territories for themselves. Part of Italy’s piece of the pie was modern-day Ethiopia. However, their colonial onslaught was stopped dead in its tracks after a well-equipped and trained Ethiopian army defeated them on 1 March 1896. Today, we mark the 129th anniversary of the historic Battle of Adwa.
While the battle started on 29 February, tensions between the Ethiopians and Italians had simmered for years. Since the mid-1880s, the budding European colonial power had established a presence in the then-seaside village of Massawa, in modern-day Eritrea. Once consolidated along the coast, the Italians began occupying inland territories. By 1890, they had declared Eritrea their own.
With nothing to halt their insatiable desire for more African land, repeated violent incursions took the Italians all the way to Ethiopia.
In 1894, Ras Mangasha, the ruler of the Tigray region, mobilised his people against the invaders. Unfortunately, Italy’s army subdued his efforts. The rapid colonial expansion prompted Menilek II, who had been crowned Ethiopian Emperor in 1889, to start mobilising the nation for resistance.
By September 1895, a formidable force of up to 100,000 troops had been assembled. Marching with purpose and determination, the soldiers began retaking territory – but avoided major confrontations with the invading army.
That changed on 29 February 1896 when General Oreste Baraterie, commander of the occupation force and acting on the orders of Rome, attacked the Ethiopians.
By the afternoon of 1 March, Menelik’s forces had routed Italy’s army. It was a decisive blow, one that sent Rome’s ambitions retreating back to Eritrea.
Ever since, Ethiopia’s resolute victory has served as a beacon of African resistance to European colonialism.