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…..
Archive for June, 2008
Personal recollections of the Aksum obelisk issue: Early days
Posted in Aksum obelisk, Italy, Restitution on June 30, 2008| Leave a Comment »
Animals as ambassadors: An essay in Afro-Asian history
Posted in Miscellaneous, Trade on June 16, 2008| Leave a Comment »
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
Posted in 20th century on June 2, 2008| Leave a Comment »
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.
Richard Pankhurst 