April 10, 2005
Live from Axum
This week, I'm in Axum - the northern Ethiopian town that was once the capital of the mighty pre-Christian Axumite Empire. The main reason is to report on the return of an ancient obelisk that was stolen from Ethiopian by invading Italian troops almost 70 years ago (see past posts).
The Italians are supposed to fly the first part in the early hours of Wednesday morning, although no one is entirely sure of the exact delivery time. The date has been shifting for the past two months. Even yesterday - just after I arrived in town - there were rumours that the whole thing was going to be delayed for 10 days. We shall see.
If it is delayed again (they have already waited 70 years) there will be a huge uproar. Things are already building up in Axum. Most of the shops have national flags up outside. There are banners flying from street corners welcoming the obelisk and thanking the government for bringing it back (an election is coming).
Last night about half the town turned out for a joyful candle-lit march around the town with banners, chanting, singing and dancing. (See pic). The internet connection is too slow to upload pics. I'll put them up next week back in Addis. (UPDATE: I've now found a faster connection so the pics should soon be appearing on Flickr - see link top right). This morning there was a 10k run. Some time tomorrow there will be a display of traditional dancing.
In short, everyone is getting very excited.
Posted by aheavens at April 10, 2005 12:40 PM
Comments
Hi Andrew:
Many thanks for the update from Axum. We were also carried away by the prospect of the return of our piece of heritage from "life in exile."
The euphoria was so overwhelming a few friends of us were debating what piece of poetry or any other literary work would match the occasion of seeing Axum back on home soil.
Well, waves of the news came back crashing, and left us frozen. We can imagine the frustration of those 100,000 guests who were reportedly invited to attend the ceremony, and some, including yourself, were already in Axum.
Once again, many thanks for your impressive coverage. And we have linked to your weblog from our website - Ethiomedia.com.
Posted by: Abraha Belai at April 12, 2005 2:43 AM
Thanks for updating all of us on this marvelous occasion of welcoming a small piece taken from every Ethiopian soul by the fascists. It is so deeply intertwined in who we are as people. It displays the totality of being Ethiopian: It is old and yet fresh, It is simple and yet sophisticated, it is broken into pieces and can still stand as it is stubborn, it was stolen and found, it lived in Diaspora in shame but it is back and forever shall stay in its rightful place. It is like being Ethiopia. We shall be united around this piece of our history and rise again.
Seyoum Berhe
USA
Posted by: Seyoum Berhe at April 12, 2005 1:45 PM
thanks for updating us . we appreciate it:-) i appreciate it also ,this is the closest i can get to Axum .
Posted by: Yordanos at April 18, 2005 6:13 PM
Hello Andrew,
You are one of a kind, great work you are filling all axumite great joy with your info. My God and history see your effort to bring this exclusive news to our finger tip.
Joseph Giday
Washington D.C.
Posted by: Joseph at April 20, 2005 11:17 AM
Andrew,
MANY THANKS to you for bringing us this historic moment. I know all ex-pats, especially me!, are VERY grateful.
Posted by: Mehari Abera at April 27, 2005 4:02 AM
Sign the Guestbook...
Posted by: Axum at May 17, 2005 7:06 PM
thank you very much meles zenawi
Posted by: tell at December 3, 2005 11:23 PM