addis ababa museums

8/3/2019 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

addis ababa museums

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