ADDIS ABABA MUSEUMS
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Transcript of ADDIS ABABA MUSEUMS
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Who wants to spend their vacation in
museums? Some people do, but in any case we
are not suggesting that you spend all your time
in museums, or that you turn your annual fun-
and-frolic into a postgraduate course in
Palaeozoic trilobites.
No, we want you to have fun.
If at the same time you happen to be
surprised, delighted, staggered, uplifted,
inspired, encouraged or enlightened, so much
the better!!
Alerting people to the possibilities of Addis
museums being the very object of this
guidebook, I have found it quite logical to start
with a museum that embraces the genuineidentities of the city itself Addis Ababa
Museum. For any traveller who happens to
arrive at the nations capital Addis Ababa,
the museum that is named after the city has so
much to tell as a first acquaintance. However,
all the museums with their extraordinary
variety, richness, curiosities and unique
charm, they both are a source of delight and
schools of enlightenment. Enjoy Addis.
ADDIS ABABA MUSEUMS
A mini-history of a great metropolis
Writing about the museums of a certain city cannotbe seen detached from the citys historical
background. As mentioned above, the very purpose
of this guidebook is not narrating history but,
inspiring people to the possibilities of the museums
in Addis. Instead of this fact, however, it was found
appropriate to say little about the past of the city.
Addis Ababa was not even mentioned in the history
of Ethiopia until the rise of Menelik II. Worlds third-
highest capital city, at an altitude of 2400m, Addis
Ababa, was founded by Emperor Menelik and named
by his wise and courageous wife Empress Taitu in the
late 19th centur ..
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Situated only few kilometres north of Bole
International Airport, Addis Ababa Museum, can give
a general insight to the citys emergence and
progress; the incidence by which it was named as
Addis Ababa (new flower), literally translated.
The museum has five sections each displaying things
of the past the city brought forth. On each door are
written the names of the coming rooms to be
visited. Foremost is Finfine Hall.
It is said that there was prophesy to the
establishment of the city. Sahle Selassie, the king of
Shoa, the central highland area of Ethiopia where
todays Addis Ababa is situated, made this prophesy
just before his death in 1847, some 40 years before
it become true. Menelik II was the one who had
fulfilled this prophesy. By the early 1880s, his
capital had reached the strategic vantage point of
the Entoto Hills, immediately to the north of
todays Addis.
FINFINEHALL
In this room are displayed pictures of the town
of Entoto, King Sahle Selassie, emperor Menelik
II, his wife empress Taitu. Entering this first hall,
to the left, on the wall near to the door, you willfind a picture of the museum in its young days
with brief and precise explanation written clearly
both in English and Amharic languages. The house
was the home of Ras Biru an alleged son of
Emperor Menelik II. The house was originally
intended as a munitions store, but the Emperor
decided instead to give Ras Biru on his marriage.
As the writing on the wall goes, the house
continued in use as a residence until 1935 when itwas possessed by the Italians for use as a clinic.
After the defeat of the Italians in 1941 it again
become a private house, shared after the death
of Ras Biru, by Woizero Fikerte Biru and Zenebe
work Biru. In the late 1960s it was rented out as
school before being used as a factory for the
manufacturing of woollen sweaters. Its next
change was into a building for local
administration. Its last metamorphosis, before
becoming the Addis Ababa Museum was into the
Maru Dembeya Hotel..
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..The note under the picture of King Sahle Selassie
explains that he was renowned for his territorial
expansion to the east and south. Known for his prophesy
of the establishment of the city he had also founded the
Keranyo Medhanialem Church, the oldest in the city.
Finfine means sparkling water, the citys former namegiven to the city by the earliest inhabitants the Oromo
people. Delighted by the sweet smelling mimosa she
found there, however, Empress Taitu named the place
Addis Ababa, new flower.
Most of the photographs are in black and white. And they
show you the first plantation of Eucalyptus trees; the
church of St. Raguel; priests dancing at the St Marry
Church in Entoto; the first settlement in Entoto and the
pavilion Empress Taitu. On the front wall of this room arehanged massive pictures of his Imperial Majesty Menelik
and Empress Taitu.
The showcases, on the other hand, display chased sword
with leather scabbard; curved sword engraved with St.
George on one side; leather shield and iron spear. Few
crosses are also placed in the showcases. The crosses of
Ethiopia are known by the world for their unique design.
They can be made of gold, silver, bronze, nickel or wood.
Hand crosses are carried by priests to bless the people inthe churches and on the streets. The richer the
community, the more ornate and the more valuable are
the crosses of the church. The priests will only be found
carrying simple wooden crosses. Processional crosses fit
over the end of prayer sticks and are carried on major
religious festivals. Ethiopia is also rich in religious
manuscripts. They are made from goat skin (biranna) and
bamboo pens were used to write on them with ink made
from various flowers and herbs.
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Through a door you walk into the next room where you shall discover how Addis has been going from
nail to head. Development Hall narrates the early development of the city. After the Emperor
Menelik II final settlement at the Finfine location, Addis Ababa gradually started to develop. From
what was no more than a camp; permanent developing arose, streets were built and all kinds of
institutions and facilities came into existence. Around the turn of the century most of what you may
expect of a capital city was basically established.
The showcases in this room display ceremonial robes of city mayors advisors and secretaries during
the time of Empress Haile Selassie. On the left wall of this room is exhibited the photograph of a
municipality building from 1917 to 1965. Previously it was the residence of Mayor Haile Giorgis who
become Prime Minister during the controversial reign of LijIyasu (1914 16) it was confiscated in
1917 for the purpose of city hall. Photographs of the 25 City Mayors since the establishment of the
city are displayed in frames. More pictures demonstrating the first hotel built in Addis which was
named after the Empress; the first vehicle brought to the country in 1907 by Bede Bentley and
Reginald Jenkins during the reign of Menelik II; a telephone operator of those days. To your surprise,
it is said that in the early days of the phone in Ethiopia it often took as long as thirty minutes to
make a connection.
DEVELOPMENT
HALL
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AlfredIig
HALL
This is the only hall dedicated to a single person Alfred Ilg. He is a Swiss engineer who played an
extraordinary role in the development of the modern
Ethiopia. In 1878, Menelik II, still king of Shoa, invited
Alfred to his council as technical advisor. Ilgs first
monument achieved was the construction of a bridge
over the Awash River in 1886. He also participated in
the construction of Meneliks palace at the Guebi
compound; especially his design of water canalization
system astonished everyone. However, Ilg is most
known for the great railway project initiate in 1894;
the Djibouti Addis Ababa line. Most materials were
imported from Switzerland. During his long presence
here he become increasingly close to the Menelik.
Ilg was able to pre-warn Menelik of the Italian
invasion. Menelik nominated him state chancellor in
1897. Ilg arranged treaties with power like Great
Britain, France and Italy, thus maintaining Ethiopias
Independence.
Photographs display this legendary mans residence
which was situated between the Imperial Palace and
St. George Church.
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Adwa Hall contains two sections. The first part is dedicated to the battle of Adwa
(1896) when Emperor Menelik II successfully defeated the Italian Invasion. This was of
huge importance for the young nation, and meant a big boost for its capital, Addis
Ababa. Ethiopias sovereignty was recognized and many international delegation and
embassies got located here. The population grew rapidly, after many of the various
patriot groups flocked to Addis and settled in. Today, the ethnic structure of the city
reflects this process.
The showcases in this room display shields, sword, iron military outfits; sword with its
sheath, iron and leather engraved Ethiopia empowered by God; sword of Emperor
Menelik II with its sheath, iron, horn and leather; telescope, arrow, Tej (a local drink)
container, water and food container (Agelgil). Photographs of Emperor Haile Selassie,
Queen Zewditu and LijIyasu are on the walls.
The second part presents some samples of further development of Addis duringEmperor Haile Selassies rule and during the military Dergue regime. Both contributed
to Addis Ababas evolution into a metropolis. Addis even got the structure as a capital
not just to Ethiopia but also for Africa.
ADWAHALL
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thiopia, along with her extremely aged history and highly fostered
ulture, owns uniquely interesting objects of handicrafts. Objects that
re made of grass, clay, woods and cotton, all of them made with
manual skill, are not only sights not to be missed but things that shall
e yours. Traditional musical instruments that are completely uniqueo Ethiopians are displayed here in this museum. Mesenko (one-
tringed musical instrument), flutes of different kinds are few of the
nstruments to be seen. And it is the writers pleasure to recommend
nterested visitors to listen to the matchless voiceless of these
nstruments in some cultural restaurants in the city.
he other thing that is of great interest for any one is the work and
fe of Laureate Meter Artist Afework Tekele, which despite the
normity of it, has been given a little space at some corner of this
ame room.
owever, despite the other halls of the museum, one should not
xpect too a great excitement in this room for it is not either highly
rganized or decorated, though it still shall be given a short stopover.
HANDICRAFTSHALL
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In 1986 Addis Ababa celebrated its
100th birthday. This centenary
caused many sympathizers
governments, towns and
organization of many types to sendcongratulation and memorial gifts.
A selection of these is displayed in
this space.
Addis Ababa, keen on collaboration
internationally with others,
became twinned with several
cities, like Budapest,
Johannesburg, Nairobi and Athens.
One showcase in this room exhibitsgifts and medals from these sister-
cities.
Another display case exhibits the
various types of money from the
past starting with the age-old salt
bar.
CENTENARYHALL