Thoughts on the re-erection of the Aksum obelisk

The Aksum Obelisk which was recently re-erected in its original spot has experienced a decade long and torturous path to finally return from its Roman exile. Prof. Pankhurst enlightens us with some fascinating details on this epic achievement in national heritage restitution…

The Aksum obelisk and the people of Kenya

The return and re-erection of the looted Aksum Obelisk marks a milestone of great significance not only for Ethiopian history, but also as an inspiration for increased momentum across Africa for the restitution of looted heritage items. This week’s ‘Corner reflects on how the return of the Aksum Obelisk is galvanizing African nations, including Nigeria and Kenya…

Ethiopian loot discussed

Now that Italy has returned the looted Aksum Obleisk, there is added pressure on especially the authorities of the British Library and the British Museum to repatriate a large trove of manuscripts, artifacts and up to a dozen ‘tabots’, replicas of the Ark of the Covenant- sacred to Ethiopians. This week’s Corner, sheds more light on the issue, as well as providing a fascinating yet rather sad portrayal of certain glorification of war crimes and war criminals of the Fascist era in Italy …

Personal memories of the Aksum obelisk issue (Part 3)

This week’s corner concludes Professor Pankhurst’s three part series on the events, personalities and collective effort behind the successful repatriation of the Obelisk from Italy. The Ethiopisant scholar however, ends this article in tantalizing manner…

Personal memories of the Aksum obelisk issue (Part 2)

The historian continues the series relating to the events surrounding the return from Rome of the Aksum Obelisk, looted and transported in 1937. In this edition, Professor Pankhurst reveals an as yet untold display of staunch solidarity with Ethiopia’s right of restitution by Chief Segun Ulusola, the then Ambassador to Ethiopia of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as the esteemed emissaries of Zimbabwe, Egypt and others, including prominent Ethiopians and the crowd at Addis Ababa Stadium…

Personal recollections of the Aksum obelisk issue: Early days

This first in a series of articles about what must be rated as one of Ethiopia’s most successful, wholly unofficial and private initiative led grouping – the Aksum Obelisk Return Committee is timely…. Even as we speak, the returned obelisk is being re-mounted on the same spot it had stood on for centuries before it was carted away to a forced exile…..

Animals as ambassadors: An essay in Afro-Asian history

If you by any chance have ever been to Djibouti seen and the huge numbers of Ethiopian cattle and other animals herded on to ships for export, do not be surprised. Over the centuries and further back in time this land of bountiful and richly diverse flora and fauna by way of trade and diplomacy, has amazed far off lands with fabulous creatures from exotic Abysiniya. A few species did mange to enter Ethiopia – including a parrot which apparently was not taught to cry for help in any of the four languages it spoke…..

Ethiopian twentieth century history revisited

Emperor Menilik, his Swiss technical advisor Alfred Ilg, Italian and French duplicity and how Djibouti came to be spelled with a ‘G’… These and more fascinating facts from modern Ethiopian history make this week’s corner a must read.

A chapter in the history of the Ethiopian press

Very few Ethiopians have ever heard of “Amda Berhan Za Ityopeya”, an underground newsletter of the anti-fascist patriots during the Italian occupation. Fewer still may know of where a copy of this historic journal could be found. It you are one such, please do contact the writer and share in preserving a part of Ethiopian history.

Historical notes on books: An early Ethiopian map

Maps, dear reader, were, as you know, rare all over the world in former times -including Ethiopia.
There was, however, one old-time Ethiopian map – or more exactly a diagramatic sketch of one, with which we are concerned today. At least five variations of it are known to the present writer. They are included in five different 18th century Ethiopian manuscripts – works of the later Gondarine period as historians call it.